In unbelievably good weather conditions, a mixed bag of 74 entrants tackled the 27th annual Silsden Fun Run, which was won by Wharfedale Harrier Russell Ashdown.

The family nature of this friendly event was nowhere better evidenced than in the extended family of Nathan Hird.

At just three-years-old, the youngster completed his second entry in this event, albeit his dad Matthew carried him round last year in a backpack!

He was accompanied across the line by dad and grandads David Hird (Veteran 60) and Graham Dawson (V70) in a time of 38min 16sec.

Grandmother Dawson had led the way by becoming first lady vet 70 some five minutes earlier.

Winner Ashdown (17.24) succeeds fellow former under-17 fell runners Gareth Hird and Owen Bielby to win an event he first competed in some 22 years earlier.

First lady was Keighley and Craven’s Tracey Bailey, dressed as a flight attendant, who flew into seventh spot in 19.22.

First vet 45 Shaun Wilkinson (17.45) lead home first V40 Paul “Crabbers” Crabtree (18.38). Paul lead home clubmate Paul Crabtree by just over a minute – a result taker’s nightmare!

Regaining her first lady V45 was Wharfedale’s Lynn Whittaker in 23.54. Lynn just failed to beat Boston USA college track captain Sophie Purdom, who had invited to the race by Tony Minikin, who was first V65 in 25.09. Alyson Knowles, of Cumbria’s Hoad Hill Harriers, was first LV 50 in 28.20.

The stand-out result in the juniors must have been Wharfedale’s ten-year-old Joshua Newbould, who was first under-12 and eighth overall in 19.41. Adam Harper was first under-17 in 24.25.

Emily Cox was top under-12 girl in 32.24 – some four minutes faster than last year’s time. Sarah Watson was first under-14 girl in 26.26.