IAN Fisher of Otley AC won last Saturday's Burn Valley Half Marathon, completing the demanding course in 1hr 14min 12sec.

The experienced runner is a previous winner of the race and finished 23rd in this year's London Marathon.

The winner of the three-mile fun run was Marc Scott of Richmond and Zetland Harriers, while 11-year-old Nicola Gill was the first female runner and the first Masham schoolgirl for the fourth time.

The event, which was first held in 1990, is very well supported by the people and businesses of Masham, with the Black Sheep brewery and Swinton Park the main sponsors.

This year's race, which took place on a hot, sunny afternoon, was about 100m shorter than usual as it missed out Swinton Park, but it did include an extra hill.

Mark Cunliffe Lister, of Swinton Park, said: "We will make sure in the future that we do not have events in the park that stop the Burn Run. Rest assured that next year the Burn Run will go through Swinton Park as has been the case before."

The family are stalwart supporters of the event with Mr Cunliffe Lister running in the fun run with his three-year-old daughter Gracie and his wife, Felicity Cunliffe Lister, running in the half marathon.

A total of 250 runners finished the race and there were 133 finishers in the fun run. Many local personalities took part, with representatives from both feed mills, Chris I'Anson and Chris Jameson.

Local postman Richard Johnson, his wife Erika, who won the women's prize, and her parents were all participants, while the youngest entrant in the half marathon, Anthony Jefford, is also from the Masham area.

Over the years, the event has raised £20,000 for charity and good causes. Masham and Kell Bank schools, the brownies and guides, beavers, cubs and scouts and the Masham skateboard park will all benefit this year.