A STORMING descent by Chris Waters gave him the spoils in the annual Nine Standards Fell Race from Kirkby Stephen on New Year's Day.

Walters was lying fifth at the summit of the ice-affected course, but the 17-year-old Skipton AC runner used his prowess coming down the fell to good effect to win by five seconds from Ambleside's Brian Clough.

Kendal AC's Mike Walsh was fourth and Teesdale AC's Denise Tunstall won the ladies race.