ILKLEY Harriers athlete Tom Adams retained his Stoop title as hundreds of runners braved wintry conditions in the fell race near Haworth on Sunday.

A high-quality field was no match for Adams, who cruised home in 31min 44sec for a comfortable win on the 8km course on Penistone Hill.

He beat runner-up Simon Bailey (Mercia) by 39 seconds, with current British fell running champion Rob Hope – a six-time Stoop winner – in third place.

Calder's Max Wharton was fourth while Keighley's Ian Holmes, who has won the event 11 times, proved he can still hold his own in elite company despite having turned 49 this month. The Bingley Harrier was fifth in a time of 33.23.

In muddy and windy conditions, the leading five were together up to the top of the Stoop before Adams kicked on once the ground levelled out.

His challengers could not respond and, apart from finding some knee-deep bogs, his passage to the finish was untroubled.

First female back was Caitlin Rice, of Glossopdale, who posted a time of 39.20 to just pip Blackburn's Helen Leigh.

Haworth's Jo Buckley, running in Calder Valley colours, was fourth lady, while Ilkley Harrier Jayne McCarthy was first female over-40 veteran.

The junior under-14 race was won by Wharfedale Harriers' Thomas Nelson, while Bingley's Matthew Merrick won the under-16s.

As always, many runners got in the festive spirit by donning fancy dress.

Meanwhile, this year's Auld Lang Syne fell race promises to be stronger than ever.

Eight runners with Olympic experience are on the entry list for the annual New Year's Eve run which also takes place on Penistone Hill.

Having missed the event for the last couple of years, Olympic and Commonwealth gold medal winner Alastair Brownlee is set to return and lock horns with his brother Jonny, who won the race in 2012.

Canadian Simon Whitfield, who won triathlon gold in the 2000 Sydney Olympics, is sure to provide the brothers from Bramhope with a tough test along with Slovenia's Richard Wagner.

English fell running champion Tom Addison, of Helm Hill, will defend the title he won last year.