A HANDFUL of South Lakeland athletes took the ferry across to Northern Ireland for the annual Irish leg of the British fell-running championship.

The Mourne Mountains course was based on the old Spelga Skyline route, with the addition of some extra mileage and climb in order to create a long category race of 13 miles with over 6000 feet of ascent.

Conditions overhead and underfoot were almost ideal, but for the rough heather in the middle stages.

The leading group were escorted round by Irish athlete Brian Ervine with Borrowdale's Simon Booth and Burneside-based Bingley athlete Rob Jebb easing away during the closing stages of the race.

Booth finished 150 yards ahead of Jebb at the finish.

Ambleside's Nick Sharpe was fourth, a short distance behind Ervine.

Burneside's Mark Roberts was held to second place in the veterans' category, and sixth overall, by a strong finish from Colin Donnelly of Eryri.

The current British champion, Ian Holmes of Bingley, faded to ninth position.

First woman home was Louise Sharpe of Keswick in 36th place.

Ambleside were third in the male open team category which Bingley won.

There were 125 finishers from 137 starters.