A NEW fell race will take in one of the most dramatic features of the Pennines next Sunday (March 10) as the first High Cup Nick event takes place.

Organised by Dufton-based runners Ray Walker and Morgan Donnelly, the High Cup Nick race will cover nine miles, starting on the village green in Dufton.

Morgan, who holds the record for the Dufton Pike race which forms part of the annual Dufton Agricultural Show event, covering the four-mile ascent of Dufton Fell in less than 24 minutes, said: "This is one of the first fell races of the season and a good starting race for runners who are entering their first event."

Ray added: "The fell race has had great support from local people. The village hall committee, and the new village ladies group will be providing refreshments in the village hall for spectators, and everyone who enters the race will receive a warming bowl of homemade soup and a roll at the end. The aim of the race is to raise money for the village hall, where work on disabled access and toilets will begin very soon.

"We hope the race will show people who may not have been to High Cup Nick that it is the hidden gem of the region."

There will be three races for young runners, from six to 17 year old, and an adult race with prizes for the first man and first woman as well as prizes for local runners."

The first children's race begins at 1pm and the adult race is at 2pm. For more detail, contact Morgan Donnelly on 017683 51689 or Ray Walker on 017683 52902.

l BORDER Harrier Mike Scott won the Haweswater Half-Marathon from a record 432 finishers on Sunday.

After a cold but dry start, a weather front moved in and the race finished in persistent rain.

Veteran 40 Scott clocked 1 hr 11min 27sec and was 1 minute 19 seconds clear of second-placed Adam Breaks (Halifax H, 1-12-46) and fellow Border Harrier Charlie Borthwick (1-14-57) in third. Yvonne Wyke (Unattached) was the first woman, 21st overall, in 1-23-44. Leading results in the accom-panying Haweswater Junior Run, in which record times were set in both the boys and girls races, were: Boys - 1 Joe Aris (Eden, 7min 30sec); 2 S. Aris (Eden, 7-36); 3 A. Harrison (Preston 7-54); 4 L. Savage (Eden, 7-59); 5 R. Cossins (Eden, 8-18); 6 T. Taylor (Kendal, 8-52).

Girls - 1 Vicky Johnston (Eden, 8min 22sec); 2 H. Marshall (Eden, 8-59); 3 M. Robinson (Helensburgh AC, 9-03); 4 K. Norwood (Eden, 9-14); 5 C. Kenyon (Eden, 9-22), 6 G. Birley (Eden, 9-24).