SILSDEN’S Murder Mile race certainly lived up to its name this year. In blistering temperatures 135 hardy runners of all ages lined up on the start line by the bridge on Brunthwaite Lane.

Not only did the sun beat down on runners but the hot road surface reflected heat back up at them as they battled their way to the top of Brunthwaite Lane to the junction with Light Bank Lane.

The longest mile in Yorkshire is a lung-busting charge up the hill that takes in various twists and turns.

It does provide the odd section of less steep incline in which to recover before the final sting in the tail of a punishing uphill finish and relief.

Silsden’s very own Jack Wood won the race in 7:09 with second senior man, Harrogate’s Ali Burns, coming fourth overall in 7:41and third senior man. Sutton’s Ian Wills came home in eighth place overall in 8:11.

The first three senior ladies were Addingham’s Jann Smith (10:32), Silsden’s Lucy Needham (11:.03) and Yeadon’s Amanda Bellwood (11:18).

Silsden’s Sam Smith had an amazing run to come home in second place overall and as first under-17 boy with a time of 7.28.

He finished ahead of Menston’s Alex Flaherty who was third overall in 7:36 and Silsden’s Jack Muir, third (8:00) who was fifth overall.

Ilkley’s Bernadette Raven was first under-17 girl and the first female across the line in 8:39.

She was followed home ahead of Lothersdale’s Emily Jones (9:30) and Foulridge’s Isabel Hartley (10:20).

Sutton’s Addison Willis is clearly following in his dad’s footsteps as he romped home as first under-14 boy in 8:55.

The second and third boys were Otley’s George Chambers (9:33) and Embsay’s Owyn Applegarth (11:34).

Menston’s Rebecca Flaherty bounced over the finish line as the first under-14 girl in 8:50. Second was Otley’s Charlotte Rawstron (9:01) and Foulridge’s Abby Stratton (9:46).

The first under-12 boy to cross the line was Oakworth’s James Sadler-Townsend (8:.43) ahead of Micklethwaite’s Archie Peaks (9:02) and Barrowford’s Oliver Brown (9:05).

Yeadon’s Maisy Bellwood won the under-12 girls’ race (9:47) from Earby’s Lucille Pickles (9:53) and Otley’s Charlotte Chambers (10:30)

Burley in Wharfedale’s Hugo Bishop was first under-nine boy across the line in 9:54.

He finished in front of Burley’s William Johnson (10:03) and Settle’s Carl Sanderson (10:26).

The first under-nine girl was Silsden’s Isobel Patefield (10:44) ahead of Bradley’s Jessica Anderson (11:54) and Cowling’s Elena Hooper (12:37).