HELM Hill's Billy Procter consolidated his leadership of the Kendal Winter League series by winning the eighth race from Cautley, near Sedbergh.

Procter has been threatening to win a league race since the start of the season and dominated this event, which included a calf-crunching climb up Yarlside, from the off.

He had a healthy lead over team-mate Mick Hoffe (V50) at the summit turn which he maintained on the steep, grassy descent down to Cautley Spout.

Veteran runners filled the first four places with Keswick's Duncan Overton (V50) and Helm Hill's Shaun Addison (V40) finishing third and fourth.

Settle's Karen Slater beat Helm Hill's Nicky Lavery by just over a minute to win the women's race and these two were well clear of third-placed Kirsty Hall.

The ever-improving David Shepherd, of Settle, was up among the leading men on the climb and was a clear winner of the U17 boys race with Wharfedale's surefooted Sam Watson overhauling Helm Hill's Tom Addison on the descent to gain second.

Cumberland Fell Runners' Emma Stuart won the girls' U17 race ahead of Helm Hill's Ashleigh Tallon and Rosie Parkinson.

The U14 boys' race resulted in an exciting finish with Matthew Fretwell edging out CFR's Ben Morphet by just three seconds. CFR's Rosie Stuart won the girls' race in a new record time and was fourth overall.

Ulverston's Tom Doyle, who runs for Helm Hill, climbed and descended strongly to win the boys' U12 race by a comfortable margin and set a new record. Rory Addison could not capitalise on a near finish line tumble by Helm Hill team-mate Niall Till as the pair battled for second place.

They finished behind Helm Hill's Jenny Addison who won the U12 girls' race, 21 seconds outside the record time she set last year.

Results: Senior Men: 1 B Procter, Helm Hill, 32-28; 2 M Hoffe, Helm Hill, 33-24; 3 D Overton, Keswick, 33-56; 4 S Addison, Helm Hill, 34-56; 5 B Lonsdale, Settle, 35-31; 6 M Addison, Helm Hill, 35-40; 7 D Scholes, Keighley & Craven, 35-51; 8 R Blenkarn, Helm Hill, 36-05; 9 M Wynne, Settle, 36-20; 10 P Tuson, Kendal, 36-27. Ladies: 1 K Slater, Settle, 40-55; 2 N Lavery, Helm Hill, 41-56; 3 K Hall, unattached, 44-05. Boys U17: 1 D Shepherd, Settle, 23-30; 2 S Watson, Wharfedale, 25-00; 3 T Addison, Helm Hill, 25-34. Girls U17: 1 E Stuart, CFR, 30-15; 2 A Tallon, Helm Hill, 31-28; 3 R Parkinson, Helm Hill, 33-11. Boys U14: 1 M Fretwell, unattached, 11-54; 2 B Morphet, CFR, 11-57; 3 J Stuart, CFR, 12-36. Girls U14: 1 R Stuart, CFR, 13-07; 2 B Penellum, Broughton, 16-25; 3 R Knipe, Barrow, 17-45. Boys U12: 1 T Doyle, Helm Hill, 5-55; 2 N Till, Helm Hill, 6-37; 3 R Addison, Helm Hill, 6-38. Girls U12: 1 J Addison, Helm Hill, 6-30; 2 M Morphet, CFR, 7-38; 3 A Lavery Hoffe, Helm Hill, 7-46.

n BORROWDALE'S Simon Booth gave warning of his early-season fitness in winning the Loughrigg/Silver Howe fell race from Ambleside's Rothay Park on Sunday.

He was around three minutes clear of Ambleside's Nick Fish and Dan Golding after the ten miles. First veteran was Ambleside's Nick Spence who finished fourth and second V40 was Kendal's Phil Whiting, who recently won the Tarren Hendre race from Abergynolwyn, Wales, ahead of Colin Donnelly.

First lady was CFR's Kate Beattie, who was well clear of Helm Hill's Jayne Bowe and Dallam's Emma Aspden.

Results: 1 S Booth, Borrowdale; 2 N Fish, Ambleside; 3 D Golding, Ambleside; 4 N Spence, Ambleside; 5 T Smith, Ambleside; 6 C Waters, Ambleside; 7 C Doyle, Trafford; 8 P Whiting, Kendal; 9 G Thorpe, Ambleside; 10 P Carter, Staffs Moorland.

n STAVELEY'S Rob Jebb, who runs for Bingley, sliced eight minutes off the record he set last year in the Wadsworth Trog otherwise known as The Beast.

The race starts from Old Town above Hebden Bridge and takes in a 20m (4000') figure of eight circuit over paths, tracks and very rough moorland, including Top Withins (of Wuthering Heights fame). The conditions underfoot were very soft' but Rob impressed from the start, opening up an early lead and overcoming the difficult terrain to finish in just over 2 hours and 42 minutes.