SILSDEN New Year’s Day Fun Run kicked off 2019 in style.

A warm bright day greeted 78 determined runners, with or without “morning after the night before” syndrome, to take on the annual challenge of a three-mile hilly jaunt.

As is now the well-established tradition, fancy dress abounded with everything from last night’s pyjamas to boxing champs and even the odd Minion.

In this the 35th year of the run, event creator Paul Buckley and race stalwart Pete Metcalfe maintained their 100 per cent participation by joining in the fun.

Not to be outdone, 17-year-old Logan Hargreaves-Madhas completed his 15th consecutive run.

Last but not least, birthday boy Benji Grundy fought off the winter lurgy and celebrated in style with a run.

Silsden’s own senior runner Craig Shearer locked horns with two junior runners from the off, in the form of Silsden’s Jack Muir and Steeton’s Alex Thompson.

The three of them battled all the way round with Shearer and Muir fighting for supremacy in a fast, downhill sprint finish.

Shearer took the title, just, from Muir; both finishing in 16 minutes and 26 seconds.

Thompson ran the second half of the race at a leisurely jog, finishing third (17.22).

Hellifield’s Andy Holden, wowed the crowds dressed as an inflated bike riding Santa to finish sixth overall, after starting at the very back of the race.

Ilkley’s Poppy Anderson won the ladies race (21.31) and was also first under-17 girl across the line.

Second lady was Silsden’s Katherine Kirkham (21.45), ahead of Silsden’s Layla Kirkley who was also first under-12 girl (22.33).

The presentation and post-race festivities took place in the Sunnybank Social Club with all competitors receiving a certificate and a prize.

The monies raised will be donated to a worthy cause, and this year £200 was donated to the “Doing it for Laura” Appeal.

Eighteen-year-old Laura Nuttall, an accomplished marathon runner, was recently diagnosed as having several brain tumours.

Tragically, Laura's tumours were diagnosed as glioblastoma, or GBM, which is an incurable stage four aggressive brain cancer with the lowest survival rate of any human cancer.

All monies raised by the charity appeal will go towards any further ground-breaking treatment Laura can have.