A near record entry of some 97 runners enjoyed the annual three-mile Silsden New Year’s Day Fun Run.

A mix of regulars and new faces, youngsters and the more temporally-challenged faced the steep climb and biting wind, dressed only in a wide variety of night attire.

Keighley and Craven supplied a new name for the race’s roll of honour, with Lucas Lee (V40) winning in 18min 12sec.

Local rivals Wharfedale Harriers provided the next three finishers in John Lockwood (u-17) 18.25, Paul Crabtree (V40) 18.39 and Harry Muir (u-17) 18.45.

Another brace of youngsters, both under-14s, followed as James Lund (K&C) 19.07 and Thomas Nelson (Wharfedale) 19.21 claimed fifth and sixth respectively.

Other notable male results were: U-12 Elliot Brett (K&C) 19.25, V60 Barry Scholes (Wharfedale) 23.15, V70 Derek Mitchell (Eccleshill) 31.57.

Local heroine Louisa Pickles (Wharfedale) was first lady home in 20.05.

Second and first lady veteran 35 was Victoria Wadsworth (K&C), third was under-14 Victoria Merrick (Bingley Harriers) in 22.12, while first lady veteran 40 was former winner, Silsden’s Liz Redshaw, in fourth with a time of 22.32.

Almost ever-present Lynn Whittaker (Wharfedale) was first lady veteran 50 in 24.24, while Laura Knowles (K&C) was first under-12 in 25.42.

The youngest competitor was eight-year-old Sophie Beaumont, who still managed a very respectable 28.33 despite having to drag her dad Shane round!

Evergreen Sheila Turbitt LV60 (K&C) continued to make it look easy in 29.40.

Victory in the long-running battle between the only two ever-presents, organiser Paul Buckley and Hellifield’s Peter Metcalfe, this year went to Buckley, who now trails 15-14.

As ever, all competitors carried off a prize of some sort and a healthy sum was raised to support both Silsden AFC and Bramley Buffaloes RLCC.