KENDAL'S Allan Miller finished fourth and second veteran in the 50th Lake District Mountain Trial held in Cumbria's north-western fells on Sunday, writes Mike Addison.

Based around Buttermere Youth Hostel the event took in Whiteless Pike, Grasmoor, Whiteside, Hopegill Head, Causey Pike, Hindscarth and Robinson with runners setting off at one minute intervals and using navigational skills to complete the clockwise circuit in the fastest possible time.

"The course had plenty of steep climbs, which suit me, and I was generally pleased with my running and route choices, with no serious errors," said Miller, who lives at Sedgwick, near Kendal.

"I've made some real howlers in the past, and this is the kind of event where mistakes can cost hours.

This is part of the fun, and the only person who doesn't kick themselves is the winner!"

Horwich's Brendan Bolland took that accolade by picking a better line than Borrowdale's Andrew Schofield over Causey Pike.

Bolland chose the longer but more runnable route while Schofield picked a shorter line through a coll but encountered rough and rocky terrain.

Third place went to Tring's Kevin Harding who took advantage of Miller's only navigational blunder at the mist covered first checkpoint.

Past winner Phil Clark was fifth and along with team mate Matthew Beresford, a teacher at Stramongate School, helped Kendal to the team prize.

Kendal also won the V40 team trophy with Jon Broxap, who was a creditable 16th, being the third counter.

Keswick's Angela Brand-Barker won the woman's race ahead of team mate Debbie Thompson.

Milnthorpe-based Clayton athlete Wendy Dodds was first V50 in ninth place.