VETERAN Rob Hope got the better of defending champion Tom Adams to win the Stoop fell race on Haworth Moor, while Keighley's Ian Holmes set a new over-50s record in his first year in the category.

Eight-time winner Hope, aged 41, showed his finishing prowess by nipping past three-time winner Adams on the final climb of Penistone Hill after a ding-dong battle over the boggy terrain.

Hope, who pipped Adams by four seconds to win in 31min 08secs, said: “I thought my chance to win had gone when I took a tumble 500 yards from the finish, but the adrenalin was really flowing and I surprised myself closing in on Tom.

"I took him on the steepest last bit with all I had left and my chest was very sore from the effort.”

The 2015 English champion Simon Bailey finished two minutes behind in the five-mile race featuring 800 feet of climb.

He was chased all the way by international orienteer Jack Wood before new over-50s veteran Holmes, an 11-time winner, showed he’s nowhere near past it by finishing fifth in a new V50 record of 33:54.

Under-18 Jimmy Lund, of Keighley & Craven AC, showed he can mix it with the best, finishing ninth overall in 34:42. Mike Egner won the V60s and William Mitton the V70s.

Hope also led his Pudsey & Bramley club mates to the team prize, with Graham Pearce sixth and Gary Devine 17th.

British and English female under-23 champion Nichola Jackson was pleased as punch to have won her first Woodentops race in the female category.

Claire Green finished second while in third under-18 Jemima Elgood smashed mountain running superstar Emma Clayton’s 2004 record by 2min 32secs, an awesome achievement leaving Scout Adkin and Haworth GP Jo Buckley in her wake.

Jemima’s day got better by leading Ilkley Harriers to the team prize, with Kate Archer ninth and second FU18 Lucy Haines 12th. Shona Stone won the FV40s, Jane Mellor the FV50s and Margaret Jagan the FV60s.

The fancy dress was fantastic, with 37 keen juniors wearing a multitude of Christmas-themed costumes along with their Santa hats.

The quarry start was a little boggy which made for crowd-cheering slides. Keighley & Craven youngsters enjoyed success with Zak Dimitrijevic (under-eights), Maisey Bellwood (under-eight girls) and Joe Hudson (under-14) all winning their categories.

Silsden-based Wharfedale Harriers also had junior winners in Alex Thompson (under-12) and Tui Brooks (girls under-10s), while Bingley's Eliza Findlay was first under-18 girl.

As is tradition both senior and junior prize givings ended with the customary chocolate throw-out which always rounds off an excellent day of racing before the Christmas festivities begin.