Keighley fell running veteran Ian Holmes hailed the star quality of this Saturday’s Auld Lang Syne race in which world triathlon stars Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee are poised to go head to head.

The Bramhope brothers, who are both big hopes for Olympic success at London 2012, are the star attractions of the elite six-mile race on Penistone Hill near Haworth.

Reigning champion Andi Jones, who was top finisher for Great Britain in this year’s European Mountain Running Championships and represented England in the Commonwealth Games marathon in Delhi, is also due to defend his title.

Holmes, who has won the Auld Lang Syne crown a record 12 times, said: “To get these calibre of athletes competing on our doorstep is unbelievable.

“People pay money to watch these guys compete but this provides an opportunity for local people to watch them for nothing at the side of the moor.

“To get the world number one and two triathlon runners and a Commonwealth runner competing here is a real feather in Keighley’s cap.

“These lads can get appearance money for competing but they’ll be running for nothing more than a bottle of beer on Saturday!”

Salford Harrier Jones, who holds the course record, is a strong contender once again while Marc Scott, who set a British best time for a 17-year-old of 30min 07secs in the recent Leeds 10k Abbey Dash, is another name to look out for.

The ladies’ race has attracted a strong field as Long Preston’s Mary Wilkinson bids to retain her crown.

She will face stiff competition from Lizzie Adams, who won the 2011 Commonwealth Mountain Champion- ship in North Wales, Hebden’s Victoria Wilkinson and Holmfirth’s Katie Walshaw, who triumphed in all this season’s Woodentops Bunny Races.

The race starts from Penistone Hill Country Park at 11.30am and will include the usual fancy dress competition