YOUTH definitely outstripped age and experience at the Silsden Murder Mile race.

Known locally as the longest mile in Yorkshire, it is a lung-busting charge up the hill that takes in various twists and turns as it winds its way from start line by the bridge on Brunthwaite Lane to the welcome finish at the junction with Light Bank Lane.

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.

All ages run together which, like this year, gives some interesting finish orders.

Unlike in 2018, the weather was at least on the side of runners as it was cloudy, cool and dry.

The overall race winner was under-17 boy Alex Flaherty of Bingley Harriers in 7.33. Second and third under-17 boys were Wharfedale Harriers duo of Addison Willis (8.47) and Benji Grundy (12.14).

The first under-17 girl was Ilkley Harriers’ Bernadette Raven (9.02) in 21st place overall from Trawden’s Alice Fleming (10.54) and Clayton-le-Moors Hannah Eccles (11.24).

Wharfedale’s Tom Millard was first senior man to cross the line (7.54) in second place overall from Keighley and Craven’s Chris Loftus (8.05) in fourth place overall and Keighley’s Ian Willis (8.07), who was third but in fifth place overall.

The first three senior ladies to cross the line were Keighley’s Sarah O’Sullivan (9.43) in 42nd place overall, from Catherine White (9.56), second, and Calder Valley’s Jo Buckley (10.06), third.

Overall female winner was under-14 girl Amelie Lane of Wharfedale Harriers, who not only sprinted home in third place overall but smashed the current female record by over 30 seconds, setting a new record time of 8.03. Second and third under-14 girls were Bingley’s Rebecca Flaherty (8.40) in 12th place overall and Trawden’s Abigail Stratton (8.52).

The first under-14 boy was Bingley’s Theo Clay (8.11) in sixth place overall, ahead of Trawden’s Callum Osborne (8.46) and Keighley’s Nathan Caunt (8.49).

Keighley’s Archie Peaker was first under-12 boy across the line (8.22) from Trawden’s Oliver Brown (8.27) and Wharfedale’s Tom Hooper (8.35), third.

Barlick’s Lucille Pickles won the under-12 girls’ title (9.11) from Keighley’s Katie Buckley (9.34) and Otley’s Charlotte chambers (9.37), third.

First under-9 boy across the line was Keighley’s Jacob O’Sullivan (9.56) from Settle’s Carl Sanderson (9.57) and Luke Robinson (10.53).

The first three under-9 girls were Keighley’s Bethan Buckley (9.27), and Wharfedale duo Isobel Patefield (10.27), second, and Elena Hooper (10.30), third.