Friday, 1 January 2016

Happy New Year as Fun Run follows feasting and flooding

The 33rd annual New Year's Day Fun Run attracted 79 competitors, some of them in fancy dress and including Wharfedale Harrier Trevor Metcalfe (No. 124), who was celebrating his 65th birthday. He is pictured with Neville Whittingham (Keighley and Craven), left, who finished 20th in 23 mins 11 secs, and Gareth Hird (Wharfedale Harriers), who was second in 18 mins 5 secs. 
Brothers Sam (right) and Tom Ive took their children round the three-mile course, which started and finished at the Green and went up Bradley Road, along Hole Lane and then to the Heights, returning down Horne Lane and Bradley Road. Sam is pictured with his daughters Rory (standing) and Lula (in pushchair); Tom is with his two children, Max (in Spiderman outfit) and Isabel.
Fun Day? You're having a laugh. Beryl, the 14-month-old basset hound, doggedly refused to let excitement get the better of her.

Under starter's orders: competitors prepare for the run. Wharfedale Harrier Sam Smith (No. 39) finished fifth in 19 mins 14 secs and was the first under-12 boy home. Next to him on the left is Lucy Fryers (Keighley and Craven), No. 162, who was 17th in 22 mins 49 secs and the first under-12 girl home.
They're off. The event, organised by Wharfedale Harriers, raises money for charities and this year's proceeds will go towards the repair of the Burnley Road Academy (Mytholmroyd Primary School), which was wrecked by the recent floods in Calderdale. Continual rain on Christmas Day and Boxing Day brought drama to Silsden with becks overflowing and walls damaged here and there but thankfully nothing on the scale suffered farther north.

More competitors head for the uphill opening stretch.
Veterans Paul Buckley (left) and Peter Metcalfe (Wharfedale Harriers) have competed in all 33 Fun Runs to date. Paul was the instigator and organised the event until recently.
Jack Muir and Alex Thompson (under-14s) are pictured with Lily Milner, who was the first under-10 girl to finish, and her brother George (No. 52). All four are Wharfedale Harriers. 
Family funsters: Michael Rosser with daughter Holly (No. 197, a Wharfedale Harrier) and son James and Poppy, the family's spaniel. On the right is Catherine Hill with son Charlie (No. 184) and daughter Sophie (No. 188). All three are Wharfedale Harriers, as is Katherine Kirkham, who was the second lady to finish. She was 13th in 22 mins 3 secs.
Benji Grundy (Keighley and Craven) was celebrating his 11th birthday.
The winner was Dave Kirkham (Wharfedale Harriers), who completed the course in 17 mins 23 secs, better than his time when he won the 2012 race.
 Second was Wharfedale Harrier Gareth Hird in 18 mins 5 secs. 
Ian Willis (Keighley and Craven) was third in 18 mins 8 secs.
Lukas Lee (Keighley and Craven) was fourth in 18 mins 45 secs.

In coming fifth and being the first under-12 boy home, Sam Smith (Wharfedale Harriers) repeated his triumph of last summer's Murder Mile.

Sarah O'Sullivan (Keighley and Craven) was 7th in 20 mins 35 secs and the first lady finisher. Her children Alice, eight, and Jacob, four, also completed the course, running with their grandma.

Sally and Simon Sutcliffe (Bronte Wheelers) finished 18th and 11th respectively.

Susan Short (Ilkley Harriers) and Daniel James were 24th and 25th respectively.
Wharfedale Harrier Stuart Johnstone cut a dash with his outfit to finish 33rd.

Harvey, a cavachon, enjoyed the warmth of a coat as did owner Linda Clarke after a rare overnight frost.