Some 15 years after being first under-17 in Silsden’s annual New Year’s Resolution Fun Run, Wharfedale Harrier Owen Beilby returned to win the event outright in 18min 31sec.

He led double winner and clubmate Jason Helmsley by 11 seconds.

Third was Keighley and Craven’s Mark Knowles in 18.50. Fourth place went to Andy Holland, who was also first veteran 40, in 19.12.

Fifth overall and first vet 45 was perennial entrant Russ Fair-hurst (Keighley and Craven) in 19.42.

First vet 50 was former Commonwealth Games cy-clist Des Fretwell in a super competitive time of 20.22, deposing oft-times winner Mike Baldwin, of Ilkley Harriers, who was ten seconds off Des’ blistering pace.

A remarkable 23 years after her first outing as an under-12 runner Silsden’s Tamara Hird (LV/35) made it five wins in a row in 20.45 to surpass Ilkley’s Jo Prowse and Sarah Fotherby, who had each won the event four times.

Wharfedale Harrier Ben Johnstone was first under-17 in 20.54.

Ilkley Harrier Alison Ben-nett was first LV/45 in 21.11, closely followed by Pendle Orienteers’ Emma Spencer, who navigated her way to a first under-17 lady place in 21.45.

Fat Friends actor Peter Yates, from Rothwell, was first V60 in 23.17, marginally ahead of Black Coombs’ Morgan Knowles, who was first under-14.

Ever-popular Keighley and Craven president Tony Mini-kin was first V65 in 24.36.

Oliver Spencer was first under-12 boy in 26.12 – less than a minute ahead of first under-9 boy Logan Har-greaves-Madhas, who, in his eight years on this planet, has completed this event six times!

Logan also bested mum Lynda, who had to be content with first LV/40 position.

Addingham’s Patricia Daw-son successfully retained her LV/60 crown in 33.20, leading in the biggest cheer of the day, which was reser-ved for Cobbydale’s King Kong James Rowling, who ran the entire testing course in a full gorilla suit and mask!

Hellifield’s Peter Metcalfe continued his unbroken run of 26 consecutive outings.

The weather gods were kind and all 91 runners en-joyed the day.

Cheques will soon be winging their way to Silsden AFC’s Football’s Coming Home Appeal and to Bramley Buffaloes Rugby League Community Club.