THREE South Lakeland fell runners underlined their championship credentials with title-winning performances in Saturday's Anniversary Waltz race from Stair, near Keswick, writes Mike Addison.

The second English championship race of the season attracted a 420-strong field and local runners acquitted themselves well in the warm weather conditions that made the going firm underfoot and led to fast times over a 11.25-mile course taking in the summits of Robinson, Hindscarth, Dalehead, High Spy and Catbells.

The first five men back all got under the previous best record time and among them was Bingley's Rob Jebb, who lives in Staveley, who was third in 1-29-51. His team- mate Ian Holmes set a new course record of 1-28-27 beating Salford's John Brown by almost a minute.

"The first two miles were a bit quick," exclaimed Rob. "I was second to the top of Robinson and held that position behind John Brown until the bottom of Dalehead. Ian and me were together on High Spy but he pulled away going over Maiden Moor and caught John going off Catbells."

First veteran was Borrow-dale's Mark Roberts, of Burneside, who was eighth and over a minute clear of his main title rival, Staffs Moorland's Dave Neil. "I had to make a decision early on whether to go with the leading group or hang back with the chasing group," said Mark, who is 41. "I went with the leaders and nothing changed up Robinson where I was ninth. I passed Rob Hope going up Hindscarth and got onto the back of Jim Davies and Nick Sharp but they left me descending Dalehead."

Keswick's Louise Sharp, who lives in Kendal, was the first lady home and currently leads the women's championship after finishing second at Lad's Leap in Derbyshire last month. She was 95th overall and beat her nearest challenger Calder Valley's Sally Newman by 50 seconds.

"I was doing well on all the climbs but everyone was passing me coming down," she said. "I felt good going up Robinson but after that I was running scared for fear that Sally was going to overtake me."

This weekend Mark and Louise will be competing for England in the P & O Knockdhu Classic in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. They will be joined by Kendal's Joe Symonds, Borrowdale's Nick Spence, and Ulverston junior Chris Doyle.

RESULTS: 1 I Holmes, Bingley, 1-28-27; 2 J Brown, Salford, 1-29-23; 3 R Jebb, Bingley, 1-29-51; 4 S Booth, Borrowdale, 1-30-16; 5 J Davies, Borrowdale, 1-30-30; 6 N Sharp, Ambleside, 1-31-20; 7 A Peace, Bingley, 1-32-09; 8 M Roberts, Borrowdale, 1-33-18; 9 R Hope, Pudsey, 1-33-54; 10 J Bland, Borrowdale, 1-34-02; 14 S Stainer, Ambleside, 1-36-29; 26 N Spence, Borrowdale, 1-39-41; 30 J Deegan, Ambleside, 1-40-08; 35 Peter Brittleton, Howgill, 1-41-56; 37 B Procter, Helm Hill, 1-42-55; 38 D Golding, unattached, 1-43-21; 46 P Singleton, Ambleside, 1-44-05; 47 A Smith, Ambleside, 1-44-07; 51 D Overton, Kendal, 1-44-50; 53 G Thorpe, Ambleside, 1-44-51; 58 S Shuttleworth, Ambleside, 1-46-29; 61 J Meyfroidt, Helm Hill, 1-46-38; 68 J Murfin, Settle, 1-48-25; 71 N Ashcroft, Ambleside, 1-49-08; 73 Paul Brittleton, Helm Hill, 1-49-48; 74 P Clark, Kendal, 1-49-48; 75 A Miller, Kendal, 1-49-48; 77 S Addison, Helm Hill, 1-49-50; 79 D Duxbury, Ambleside, 1-49-50; 84 S Freeman, Ambleside, 1-50-30; 85 I Atkinson, Helm Hill, 1-50-40; 94 M Addison, Helm Hill, 1-51-08; 95 L Sharp, Keswick, 1-51-10; 112 P Tuson, Kendal, 1-53-25; 118 M Beresford, Kendal, 1-53-56; 139 R Cannon, Helm Hill, 1-56-11; 154 S Taylor, Bingley, 1-57-27; 199 D Owen, Ambleside, 2-02-50; 204 R Jerram, Kendal, 2-03-22; 207 M Moss, Howgill, 2-03-29; 219 S Wood, Ambleside, 2-05-40; 244 A Hinde, Settle, 2-10-12; 270 C Speight, Ambleside, 2-14-55; 281 W Dodds, Clayton, 2-16-06; 294 B Slater, Settle, 2-18-27; 321 V Wilkinson, Ambleside, 2-24-08; 338 D Ablitt, Ambleside, 2-28-10; 350 C Kenny, Ambleside, 2-30-38; 379 K Heywood, Kendal, 2-38-29.

April 25, 2003 10:30