STAVELEY'S Rob Jebb was celebrating a double race win over the weekend after storming to victory in the Moel Eilio and Fairfield events, writes Mike Addison.
Jebb will be competing in Sunday's British championship race Elidir Fawr - an event that he holds the record for - and was in Wales over the weekend to reconnoitre the route.
While there he took in the Moel Eilio race from Llanberis and was involved in a tussle for first place with Eryri's Alan Vaughan, who pushed him all the way over the eight miles and 3,000ft of climbing.
"I was hoping not to run as hard as I did," said Jebb, who beat the winning time over the route when it was a British Championship race last year. "He (Vaughan) kept catching me when I eased up. I never had chance to take a breather."
His girlfriend Sharon Taylor was second lady behind Sally Newman.
The following day Jebb was in action again at Fairfield and blew away the competition to win in 76-22 over three minutes ahead of Ambleside's Simon Stainer, who also turned in an impressive performance.
Many of the athletes suffered in the heat and the Langdale and Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team was called out to attend to one 37-year-old runner from Wales who had collapsed at Brook Crags, below Low Pike, with heat exhaustion.
Race organiser Tony Walker said a group of tourists had come across the distressed athlete and had been unable to get him to eat or drink.
"He was one of the very few runners who had taken a mobile phone with him but he was not in a state to use it ," said Mr Walker. "A couple of runners had reported him being sat down and not looking too well."
He was treated on the scene by a mountain rescue team doctor before being taken by stretcher from the fell side to the valley bottom.
Jebb took the lead at the foot of the first climb and by the time he reached the ridge on the long run to Fairfield he was well clear. "It was a good confidence booster for this weekend's championship race," said Jebb.
First veteran was Kendal's Craig Roberts, who has won the event on three occasions. He beat Horwich's Graham Schofield. Rossendale's Ken Taylor was first V50 in 24th and Ambleside's Barry Laycock was first V60 in 65th.
First lady was Borrowdale's Nicola Davies, who was also first V40 female in 43rd position clocking 98-25.
There were 222 starters and four retirements.
RESULTS: 1 R Jebb, Bingley, 76-22; 2 S Stainer, Ambleside, 79-53; 3 M Croasdale, Bingley, 81-00; 4 C Roberts, Kendal, 82-31; 5 G Schofield, Horwich, 83-01; 6 A Dunn, Helm Hill, 83-29; 7 J Hemsley, Pudsey & Bramley, 83-38; 8 B Procter, Helm Hill, 84-32; 9 J Archbold, CFR, 87-34; 10 D Golding, Ambleside, 88-10; 12 J Hooson, Ambleside, 89-10; 15 S Shuttleworth, Ambleside, 90-33; 17 S Hicks, Borrowdale, 91-40; 19 B Harrison, Ambleside, 92-19; 25 R Turner, Ambleside, 93-27; 27 S Addison, Helm Hill, 93-54; 32 A Miller, Kendal, 95-33; 39 P Tuson, Kendal, 97-30; 42 I Atkinson, Helm Hill, 98-16; 46 M Addison, Helm Hill, 98-41; 57 Paul Brittleton, Helm Hill, 101-19; 59 J Dunn, Helm Hill, 101-33; 65 B Laycock, Ambleside, 102-52; 72 C Speight, Ambleside, 103-52; 83 R Cannon, Helm Hill, 105-21; 96 R Bell, Ambleside, 108-14; 103 J Leather, Ambleside, 109-53; 104 N Hambrey, Kendal, 110-00; 106 D Aspden, Dallam, 110-11; 107 E Hampton, Hoad Hill, 110-27; 114 R Scott, Kendal, 112-33; 127 J McKenzie, Helm Hill, 114-52; 130 R Baker, Ambleside, 116-08; 141 D Till, Helm Hill, 119-48; 147 C Graham, Helm Hill, 121-02; 166 E Aspden, Dallam, 125-32; 174 D Ablitt, Ambleside, 127-27; 176 S Owen, Ambleside, 128-57; 190 R Nelson, Helm Hill, 131-58; 191 Y Procter, Helm Hill, 132-12; 200 J Laycock, Ambleside, 138-14.
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