A TOTAL of 52 runners revelled in New Year's Day sunshine to complete the hilly 3-mile course of Silsden's annual fun run.
The field included hot-shot athletes at the front to 4-year-old Logan Hargreaves, who has already taken part in the event twice, via 'Old Timer' Tony Minikin - and everyone had a super time.
Several runners had survived the previous day's Auld Lang Syne fell race in freezing conditions and described it as more like a reconstruction of Napoleon's retreat from Moscow.
At the sharp end of the fun run Will Smith of Keighley and Craven AC became only the second runner to break the 16 minute barrier, and the fastest runner for 13 years in 15:47, but he was still 22 seconds outside Dave Throup's 1991 record time of 15:25.
Other top 10 finishers were: 2 Stewart Macdonald (Binely) 16:44, 3 Graham Pearce (Ilkley AC) first local runner 17:42, 4 Damian Scholes (K&C) 17:49; 5 Shaun Wilkinson (K&C) first Vet 40 18:10; 6 Russ Fairhurst (K&C) 18:37, 7 Mark Clarkson (K&C) 18:50; 8 Charlie Marshall K&C) 19:16 - who set his best ever time over the course on his 49th birthday.
9 Mike Baldwin (Ilkley) 19:55, 10 Tamara Hird (First lady and first local lady) 20:06.
Under-17: winner Anthony Rowling (Silsden) 22:27. Under-14s: 1 Tom Sessford (K&C) 11th overall 20:12. 1st girl: Vicky Howell (Silsden) 34:02.
Under-12: 1 Thomas Woodland 29:25. 1st girl: Joanna Rowling (Silsden) 40:35.
Despite suffering cramp on the descent of Bradley Road Peter Metcalfe from Hellifield completed his 22nd consecutive running of the event.
Every runner left the presentation at the Sunnybank Social Club with a timed certificate, character mug, pack of sports socks and a present from Santa's sack.
The profit of about £80 will go towards buying a new strip for Keighley RUFC Colts.
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