THE 45th annual gala at Horton-in-Ribblesdale was bathed in glorious sunshine on Saturday.

The gala princess, 12-year-old Emily Palmer, was following in the footsteps of her mum, Avril, who held the same royal role when she was a teenager.

Emily was in the limelight a few months ago when she performed with the Helen Howard School of Dance at the Royal Albert Hall and sharing the stage with her on Saturday were Horton Primary School pupils, eight-year-olds Rebecca Radda and Esther Rhodes and seven-year-old Zoe Thomas.

Opening the day's proceedings and judging the fancy dress were Outreach Postmaster Graham Scruton and his wife Lynn. Graham has provided postal services in the village for the past seven years and Lynn's late father was the local photographer Ken Jelley.

The Walter Sutcliffe Memorial Trophy for the best overall entrant was awarded to Edward Rhodes as scary pirate Jack Sparrow while The Chris and Jean Sutcliffe Cup for the runner-up went to Ellie Forster as a gingerbread man. In her warm costume she was in character, freshly baked, just out of the oven!

Musical attraction was provided by the Leeds-based South Steel Band and local band the Jukebox Junkies.

Mr Bubbles entertained the children who also took part in a variety of sports. Zorb balls and a bouncy castle burned off more energy and there were also games and sideshows to keep them happy and even a candy floss stall.

The popular Penyghent fell race, organised by the Settle Harriers, took place in the main heat of the day with a field of 164 competitors.

Wharfedale Harrier Mark McGoldrick led the runners from the field and to the pinnacle but the descending speed of his fellow team mate Ted Mason was too great and it was Mason who crossed the line first, though well outside the record held for the past 19 years by Borrowdale runner Mark Roberts. Bingley's Victoria Wilkinson was the first lady and came home in a very creditable overall seventh position.

Tea, sandwiches and homemade cakes were on sale in the pavilion, which has just been refurbished using grants from the Lottery and Sports England.

A display of vintage cars provided a lot of interest while the Kirkby Lonsdale Alpacas attracted the not-so-mechanically minded.

Results were: fancy dress, under fours - 1 Annie Fish (Prisoner of Azkaban), 2 Layla Newhouse (Peppa Pig), joint 3 Jessica Carr (dinosaur) and Charlotte Cox (Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz); five to seven years - 1 and overall winner Edward Rhodes (Captain Jack Spratt), 2 Oliver Carr (Harry Potter), 3 Rosie Wilson (The Princess); eight to 17 years - 1 and overall runner-up - Ellie Forster (gingerbread man), 2 Kaitlin Cox (Aussie Explorer), 3 Charlotte Wilson (Donald Trump); over 18s - 1 Avril Palmer (Queen's Mother) 2 Lucy Fish (Demented Dementor).

Groups and decorated prams - 1 Lucy Fish, Annie Fish and Oliver Carr (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban), 2 Chris and Jessica Carr (dinosaurs).

Fell race: men - 1 Ted Mason, Wharfedale, 49.43, 2 Mark McGoldrick, Wharfedale, 50.32, 3 Thomas Corrigan, Barlick Fell Runners, 50.37; ladies - 1 Victoria Wilkinson, Bingley, 54.27, 2 Lucy Collins, Calder, 63.01, 3 Ali Keates, FRA , 63.40.