Silsden New Years Resolution Fun Run

Where's Whallybot_photo by Andy Holden

2015 was kicked off in grand style at the Silsden New Year Resolution Fun Run.  The approx. 3 mile race starts on Bradley Road in Silsden and is not for the faint hearted. It climbs up some steep contours to meet the aptly named Heights Lane before an equally steep descent to the finish line, back on Bradley Road.  Being the morning after the night before, this “fun” run is no mean feat, making the 86 competitors all the more hardy for entering. 

As in many years previously, there was a fancy dress theme, this year being “nightwear.”  Fully entering into the spirit of the event, there was every imaginable form of bedroom attire, ranging from Superman to a clutch of Where’s Whallys, with everything in between.  The fun in the run didn’t end there as all ages were represented.  The youngest was 18 month old Ava Ormrod who was pushed round in her buggy, by a very dedicated mum and dad, to whizz across the finish line in 37th place. The oldest runners were over 60, ran under their own steam, and won’t be named here!  There were also some notable Silsden Fun Run veterans present.  Pete Metcalfe completed his 31st run whilst 13 year old Logan Hargreaves-Madhas  did his 11th run.  He began running as soon as he could walk and hasn’t stopped since!  And to cap it all there was a milestone 10th birthday boy there in the form of Benji Grundy, resplendent in his gorilla onesie, running his second event.

In the end, Superman (AKA local boy, Craig Shearer) lived up to his name and flew across the finish line in first place in a time of 17.55 mins.  Second place went to Sutton’s  Ian Willis in a time of 18.33 and third man across the line was another Silsden boy, Jason Helmsley, in a time of 20.01.

The clutch of Whallys injected their own form of fun as they ran round in “Whallybot” formation before “conga-ing” across the finish line in a joint time of 26.05.

The birthday boy was sung to before the starting whistle and celebrated his way around picking up loads of “happy birthday’s” as he went.

Tradition was maintained with the presentation after.  Everyone assembled in the King’s Arms for drinks and post-race festivities.  All competitors received a certificate and a prize, lovingly wrapped by someone else and brought to the event, to be chosen at random as their name was called.

£193 was raised from the entry fees and will be split between Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association and Wharfedale Harriers.

Silsden Fun Run Results 2015