THE sun shone on a hugely popular fundraising family event in Oxenhope.

Hundreds of spectators and competitors turned out to enjoy the Oxenhope Straw Race yesterday. (July 5) The enduringly wacky race involves two-person teams – many in fancy dress – picking up a bale of straw at the Bay Horse Inn then heading up to the finish at the Dog and Gun up a gentle hill, via Oxenhope Social Club and the Lamb Inn.

A pint of beer – or half-pint for female teams – is drunk by teams at each stop.

Organisers say the runners in fancy dress excelled themselves this year, with costumes including living statues, Vikings, Men in Black, aliens, a Santa's sleigh, pirates and tigers.

Winners were Will Smith and Ian Holmes, who finished in 15 minutes 10 seconds. The pair have now won the race for the last eight years.

Straw race organising committee secretary Jane Barrett, who lives in Oxenhope, said: "It went very well. We had 212 teams taking part.

"We have had up to 230 teams before, but over the last three to four years it's been nearer the 190 mark, so we have had a good year.

"The people in fancy dress had really upped their game. We had Penelope Pitstop, Dastardly and Muttley and five teams who came as stops on a Monopoly game board. Their attention to detail was amazing."

Winners of 2015 Oxenhope Straw Race

Male Athletes: Will Smith and Ian Holmes 15mins 10secs
Male Fun: James Bancroft and Alfred Walker 19mins 35secs
Male Veteran: Keith Binns and Mick Berry 18mins 59secs
Female Athletes: Angela Holmes and Kelly Drake 25mins 45secs
Female Fun: Claudia Fabian and Candice Wilson 23mins 50secs
Female Veterans: Diane Macdonald Tina Kelly 29mins 21secs
Mixed Athletes: Luke Hepple and Vicky Omelianowicz 22mins 47secs
Mixed Fun: Chris Barnes and Laura Hesketh 22mins 19secs
Mixed Veterans: Jennifer and Alistair McDowell 24mins 51secs
Local Heroes: Karl Milligan and Stuart McLeavy 18mins 44secs

Fancy dress

Male: Shrek and Fiona – Ian Page and John Egan
Female: Gone Fishing - Fiona Gostling and Lucy Harper
Mixed: Penelope Pitstop/ Dastardly and Mutley – Nick Townend; Roobe Mitchell; Dawn Townend; George Townend; Gordon Mitchell
Combined: Concrete Clowns – Richard Smith; Chris Elrick; Phillip Elrick; Richard Summers; Darren Close; Jonny Schwartz
Overall Effort/ Special Mention: Monopoly – Sam Reeday; Paul Reeday; James Andrews; Ayca Andrews; Chris Reynard; Clare Reynard

 

 

 

 

*See this Thursday's Keighley News for full story and photo special