Trophies shared in record Bradford Millennium Way Relay

A record 50 teams set off from Beckfoot in Sunday’s 12th Bradford Millennium Way Relay, organised by Saltaire Striders.

It ended with Bingley Harriers, Accrington Road Runners, Keighley & Craven and Stainland Lions scooping the trophies.

The mixed race saw Stainland holding the lead the whole way round, finishing in 6hr 49min 28sec for eighth overall.

They held off Accrington, winners for the last three years and fielding a couple of female internationals, with Sarah Ridehalgh and David Thornton posting the second-fastest time in the anchor leg from Ilkley to Bingley in 1:18:35.

Tara Krzywicki and Paul Gallagher had hauled them into contention on the fourth leg from Silsden to Ilkley.

Home-team Airedale Athletics were third mixed team, followed closely by Valley Striders and Wakefield Harriers.

The main race proved a canter for Bingley Harriers, who were second after the opening leg won by Airedale pairing Quentin Lewis and Simon Pass.

Andy Peace and Ian Holmes then opened an eight-minute gap on the run from Marsh to Laycock.

Jamie Robinson and Steve Bailey handed to Andy Jebb and Andy Brown, before Steve Broadbent and Lee Athersmith brought them home winners by 38 minutes in the third-fastest time ever of 3:35:32.

The race for second hotted up between Airedale Athletics and Keighley & Craven Vets. Keighley entered seven teams of ten runners, with their Vets team aiming for the over-35s prize.

Will Smith and Stephen Brock took them into second on the fourth leg with the fastest leg-time of the day. Then the plan went awry, with Chris Loftus and Steve Brown getting lost off the moor by Weecher Reservoir and the latter, a diabetic, becoming ill over the final few miles and needing hospital attention on arrival.

This allowed Wharfedale to finish third overall, with Accrington fourth and sneaking the Vets prize.

Keighley & Craven’s women dominated throughout, led off by Tizz Woffenden and Liz Tomes. Their unassailable lead was too much for Bingley pairing Sue Becconsall and international Victoria Wilkinson on the final leg.