An in-form Bingley Harriers runner finished off 2007 with a bang when he set a new course record in winning the Auld Lang Syne Fell Race held at Penistone Hill near Haworth on Monday.

Alistair Brownlee of Horsforth won the race in convincing fashion and shaved nearly two seconds off old course of 40.55.

The 19-year-old Brownlee, a student at Leeds University, completed the six-mile course, which included 900 feet of climbing, in 39.07.

Brownlee, the reigning champion of the 2007 European and duathlon and triathlon events, was not the only runner to better the old course record.

The top four runners, including his Bingley Harriers team-mate, Keighley's Ian Holmes, all finished within the old course record on a day where the weather conditions were ideal but the course was very muddy under foot.

Salford AC runner Andi Jones, who won the Stoop Fell Race in mid-December, finished second in 39.23.

Leed City AC runner James Walsh was third in 39.57 and Holmes was fourth with a time of 40.37. He was also the first V40 runner to cross the line.

Two other Bingley Harriers' runners, Andy Peace of Haworth and Jonathan Brownlee (Alistair's younger brother), finished seventh and eighth respectively. Peace was clocked at 41.47 and Brownlee 42.09. The latter was the first Under-18s runner to cross the line.

Bingley Harriers' success continued as they were the first placed men's team on the day, with Alistair Brownlee, Holmes and Peace the counting runners.

Pudsey & Bramley runner Graham Pearce of Silsden and his twin brother Martin, a Bingley Harrier, finished in 15th and 16th place, respectively, with times of 44.06 and 44.21.

Will Smith was the best Keighley & Craven AC runner on Sunday, finishing 17th in a 44.45.

The top Wharfedale Harriers runner was Ian Taylor, who crossed the line in 44.55.

A familiar face won the ladies race. Olivia Walwyn, a 24-year-old school teacher from Altrincham, set a new ladies course record with a time of 47.05.

Walwyn, who won the Stoop Fell Race earlier in the month, beat the old record, 49.15, by more than two minutes.

Bingley Harrier Sharon Taylor was the second lady home in 50.39. Lisa Lakin of Holmfirth finished third in 51.03.

Ilkley Harriers won the ladies team event with Emma Barclay finishing sixth, Sally Malir seventh and Heather Dawe 15th.

Keighley & Craven's Elizabeth Tomes was the first V50 lady home with a time of 56.45. She finished 193rd in a massive field of 472 runners.

Race organiser David Woodhead said: "It was second highest field we've ever had. Only the Millennium race attracted more runners (532).

"It was one of the best fields we've even had in terms of both numbers and quality."