AFTER a week of heavy rain, the temperature dropped last weekend to make the Bronte moors hard and icy for the five miles of the Stoop fell race from Penistone Hill Country Park, near Haworth.

Considering the sub zero temperatures, 70 hardy juniors took part in the early races with Anne Smith of Park High School Colne winning the main under 14 event.

The senior race was won by Bingley international Ian Holmes who has won the event every year but one in its 10 year history. The first event was won by Burnley's fell running Chumbawamba guitarist Alan 'Boff' Whalley.

This year, Todmorden's Karl Smith was the first Lancashire runner finishing in fourth place, with Clayton Harrier Shaun Livesey fifth, out of the 230 competitors.

Darwen banker Graham Schofield was second vet 40 in 11th place, Clayton's Karen Goss was first lady vet 50 in 48.56 and Jean Rawlinson second lady vet 40.

Senior results (men): 1 Ian Holmes (Bingley) 27.47, 2 Paul Sheard (Pudsey & Bramley) 28.41, 3 Rob Hope (Pudsey & Bramley) 28.54, 4 Karl Smith (Todmorden) 29.56, 5 Shaun Livesey (Clayton-le-Moors) 30.02, 6 Steve Oldfield (Bradford Airedale) 30.09, 7 Paul Stevenson (Bingley) 30.15, 8 Gary Oldfield (Pudsey & Bramley) 30.38, 9 Alan Boff Whalley (Pudsey & Bramley) 30.57, 10 Andy Payne (unattached) 31.00, 11 Graham Schofield (Horwich) 31.06.

22 Shaun Addison (Clayton) 32.44, 28 Gary Taylor (Darwen Dashers) 33.21, 30 Matt Woods (Clayton) 33.25, 31 Neil Worswick (Clayton) 33.32, 59 Jeff Pickup (Clayton) 35.46, 62 John Rusius (Pendle) 35.58, 64 Andrew Dugdale (Clayton) 36.07, 66 Geoff Newsam (Clayton) 36.10, 81 Phil Hodgson (Todmorden) 37.45, 87 Peter Dugdale (Clayton) 38.02, 90 Andy Firth (Clayton) 38.07, 93 Alan Yeoman (PFO) 38.13, 95 Ray Poulter (Todmorden) 38.18, 104 Roy Ashcroft (Darwen Dashers) 38.34. Ladies: 1 Helen Johnson (Ilkley) 34.32, 5 Jean Rawlinson (Rossendale) 41.04 (2nd V40), 12 Caroline Rodgers (Todmorden) 48.18, 14 Kath Brierley (Todmorden) 45.07, 19 Mayreen Ashton (Clayton) 47.09, 20 Mandy Goth (Todmorden) 47.31, 26 Karen Goss (Clayton) 48.56 (first V50).

Juniors (under 14 race): 1 Anne Smith (Park High School) 6.11 (U14), 5 Mark Bridge (Pendle) 6.27 (U14), 9 Naomi Biddle (Pendle) 6.45 (U14), 13 Luke Turner (Park High) 7.03 (U12), 14 Kieran Turner (Clayton) 7.13 (U14), 21 Sam Holden (Darwen Dashers) 7.37 (U12), 23 Lauren Bridge (Pendle) 7.48 (U12), 25 Grace Biddle (Pendle) 8.05 (U12), 31 Kyle Biddle (Pendle) 8.48 (Under Nine), 34 Sara Yeomans (Pendle) 8.53 (U12), 38 Mike Burnip (Clayton) 9.07 (U12), 46 David Burnip (Clayton) 9.22 (Under Nine), 47 Chris Bridge (unattached) 9.32 (Under Nine).

West Pennine Runners: Neil Holding 34.21; Marion Dixon 42.05 (5th lady).

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.