RAIN fell for the third successive year at Burnsall Feast Sports day but didn't dampen spirits as traditional music from Skipton Brass Band helped to blow the clouds away.

Volunteers spent much of Saturday morning re-erecting tents which had been blown down in the squalls of heavy rain sweeping the village green.

But by early afternoon the showers were relenting as the brass band started its musical programme, revellers started to gather on the green and runners queued to register for the 10-mile road race and the fell race.

The children’s races, and later various adult races were well supported, and keenly contested - the men’s wheelbarrow race in particular saw several impromptu partnerships formed on the spot for the event.

A couple of heavy showers saw the runners and spectators run for cover, but as the afternoon progressed, the weather gradually improved.

The inflatable slide had fallen victim to the earlier inclemency, but there was still a wide variety of children’s games, a coconut shy, raffle, a tombola and church cake stall to keep young and old entertained.

The guest starter for the main races was Grassington dry stone waller Steven Hawkins, a four times winner of the Senior Fell Race at Burnsall, and winner of the Fell Runners Association Championship in 1992.

There were 120 runners in the road race, while 129 runners started the Classic Fell Race. In the junior fell races, with six different age groups, a best-ever total of 94 runners took part.

And again in keeping with tradition, the event was rounded off with the ever-popular egg-throwing contest. Prizes were awarded by Yvonne Stockdale and the day came to a conclusion with the singing of the hymn 'Jesus Shall Reign.'