Christine Cowley declined to be pictured with her men but they are pictured with Honor Beard from Mann & Partners - left to right; sons David, Neil and Andrew and husband Brian.

Jennie Brierley (92) doesn't feature in the results as she entered the cycle but only ran the first leg before withdrawing as she had declared beforehand. But she is featured in my best picture - with apologies to Martin Critchley whose camera spot I hijacked.

Cycle winner Tony Okell and third placed Tom Cringle. Andrew Brierley was the runner up.

Keith Gerrard looks nervous before he starts his record breaking third leg.

Pictures published here by Murray Lambden.

MANN & PARTNERS MILLENNIUM WAY RELAY

The runners up - Super Cal and the three Gibbons pictured with Honor Beard of Mann & Partners. Left to right: Gary Ashe, Simon Skillicorn, Cal Partington and Mike Quine. (ML)

Newtons Assorted Festive Nuts finished fourth and featured Dave Newton, Malcolm Newton, Rebecca Newton and Andrew Newton. (ML)

Jackie Kennaugh ran the first leg for Journey South team. Although it was bitterly cold the spectators seemed to complain more than the runners most of who ran in shorts over the first leg and enjoyed the fairly calm and firm underfoot conditions. (ML)

MANN & PARTNERS MILLENNIUM WAY RELAY

Dave Newton was the very first athlete to reach this point in the Millennium Way Relay, the changeover on the Brandywell Road, in 1979! Representing  the Foresters Arms (and legs) team which won the inaugural event, he covered the ground in 58:34 ahead of the late Stephen Mackie (Manx AC Juniors) 58:46 and Murray Lambden (Boundary Harriers) 59:13. Dave is pictured by Martin Critchley some 26 years later recording a time of 1:06:07.

Tony Varley (pictured by Martin taking over from Jeff Looker at the same point) also ran in the very first relay and has never missed an event since. In the very first event he ran for the Boundary Harriers team that finished third and should have handed over to John Cannell. Several of the teams misjudged how long it would take to run to Crosby and didn't get there runners to the changeover in time. Boundary Harriers were able to put Terry Evans onto the third leg with John switching to the final leg whereas the Foresters team (Phil Cain) lost four minutes through lateness. But with Keith Callister (38:26) and Steve Kelly (35:58) setting the first records on legs 2 and 4 for the Foresters team, they still beat the Manx AC junior team which included Chris Quine, John Butterworth and Graham Clarke although only after they too had their misfortune - Graham went astray at Silverdale when leading! (Thanks to Chris Quine for the additional information).

Christine Barwell was the sole female finisher in the cycle event this year. Christine is virtually an ever present at Manx athletics events as well as putting loads back into the sport in her official role with the Manx Fell Runners. She is pictured by Martin Critchley at St Luke's.

NEW - 1999 to 2005 all runners by fastest times

Fastest 12 of all time

MANN & PARTNERS MILLENNIUM WAY RELAY FEATURE

MARTIN CRITCHLEY'S PICTURES

TEAM RESULTS

FASTEST TIME PER LEG

CYCLISTS

PRE-RACE FEATURE