There were records galore during Sunday’s tenth running of the Bradford Millennium Way Relay, organised by Saltaire Striders.

A best-ever 51 teams took part, with seven from Keighley & Craven AC, five from Accrington Road Runners, four from Pudsey Pacers and five from the Airedale Athletics clubs, together with teams from Belgium and the Netherlands.

Perfect conditions on the opening legs changed to squally rain by the end over the circular five-stage route from Bingley via Oxenhope, Laycock, Silsden and Ilkley.

Accrington won the mixed title again. They continue to raise the bar, with international-standard women runners.

Amanda Parkinson, with leg-partner David Thornton, set a new “mixed” best for the penultimate stage from Silsden to Ilkley in 69min 50sec.

They also took the over-35s prize across the Pennines in a 50-strong raiding party marshalled by Graham Morris.

Keighley & Craven held off neighbours Wharfedale Harriers to win the women’s race.

Strong initial legs, with Helen Glover and Amy Green storming the second leg from Marsh to Laycock in 75min 28sec (the fifth fastest of the day), meant they had a 26-minute advantage at halfway. It was whittled down to five minutes by the end, as they won in 7hr 7min 31sec.

Bingley put out their strongest team, who duly won in a course record of 5hr 29min 28sec.

The damage was done on the second leg by international fell runners Ian Holmes and Andy Peace, who smashed the stage record in 63min 8sec.

Marc Teasey and Sarah Jarvis also broke the record for leg three in 55min 7sec. By the finish Bingley had almost a 26-minute advantage over rivals Pudsey & Bramley.

Airedale Athletics captain Will Kerr was delighted with “some amazing performances”.

Stars were Quentin Lewis and Yared Hagos on the first leg, who destroyed the record in 69min 51sec. Then anchors Matt Nowell and Kerr hauled in Pudsey Pacers in the last 500 yards of the 47 miles to snatch third place.

The AA mixed team finished second, with Rebecca Cesar de Sar and Bob Pritchard (81:27) and Nicola Francis and Mick Hogan (65:50) standing out.