HOME ground proved fruitful for Simon Booth as he raced to clear victory in the punishing Borrowdale Fell Race.

Booth, of Borrowdale Fell Runners, clocked 2 hrs 50 min 37 sec for the 17-mile course which took runners from Rosthwaite to Esk Hause, over the summits of Scafell Pike and Great Gable and back to Rosthwaite via Honister Pass and Dale Head.

Nearly 500 runners tackled the course, which involved around 7,000 feet of climbing, and 404 made it to the finish.

Second home was Simon Bailey, of Mercia Fell Runners, 3 min 16 sec behind Booth.

Borrowdale's Jim Sharp was third in 2:58:45 with Nick Sharp, Ambleside, fourth and Rob Jebb, Bingley Harriers, back in fifth.

First woman home was Jill Mykura, of Carnethy, 53rd overall in 3:41:02, with Sharon Taylor, Bingley, second and 63rd overall.

Results: Top 20:1 S. Booth, Borrowdale, 2:50:37; 2 S. Bailey, Mercia, 2:53:53; 3 J. Davies, Borrowdale, 2:58:45; 4 N. Sharp, Ambleside, 3:00:06; 5 R. Jebb, Bingley, 3:01:58; 6 B. Bardsley, Borrowdale, 3:02:19; 7 & 1st V40 C. Donnelly, Ron Hill, 3:02:19; 8 I. Holmes, Bingley, 3:02:47; 9 P. Davies, Borrowdale, 3:03:26; 10 T. Austin, Dark Peak, 3:04:53; 11 & 2nd V40 D. Neill, Staffs Moorland, 3:05:04; 12 M. Denham-Smith, Keswick, 3:06:59; 13 P. Thompson, Clayton, 3:07:20; 14 S. Stainer, Ambleside, 3:11:35; 15 J. McQueen, Eryri, 3:12:04; 16 & 3rd V40 S. Whittlie, Carnethy, 3:12:33; 17 M. Roberts, Borrowdale, 3:14:39; 18 G. Bland, Borrowdale, 3:16:34; 19 J. Hunt, Cumberland, 3:18:13; 20 A. Schofield, Borrowdale, 3:20:03.

Other results: 27 D. Golding, Ambleside, 3:25:08; 28 G. Thorpe, Ambleside, 3:25:14; 33 N. Lockwood, Keswick, 3:28:02; 35 & 1st V50 S. Jackson, Horwich, 3:28 33; 40 N. Ashcroft, Ambleside, 3:36:35; 43 J. Archbold, Cumberland, 3:37:53; 47 J. Dawson, Cumberland, 3:39:10; 51 & 2nd V50 D. Spedding, Keswick, 3:40:52; 53 & 1st female J. Mykura, Carnethy, 3:41:02; 58 N. Spence, Borrowdale, 3:42:40; 63 & 2nd female S. Taylor, Bingley, 3:44:11; 69 D. Overton, Keswick, 3:45:39; 84 C. Hope, Borrowdale, 3:50:40; 85 M. Cunningham, Borrowdale, 3:50:40; 89 S. Hicks, Borrowdale, 3:51:11; 97 R. James, Cumberland, 3:54:36; 112 & 1st V60 G. Howard, Ilkely, 3:59:58; 115 & 3rd female K. Jenkins, Carnethy, 4:01:27; 125 & 1st FV40 N. Davies, Borrowdale, 4:04:10; 142 & 1st FV50 M. Laney, Clayton, 4:07:24.

n THERE were 76 runners in Latrigg Fell Race.

Hot conditions made it hard work for the runners on the climb although dry ground assisted them on the steep descent.

Several of the runners had taken part in The Borrowdale Fell Race the day before which had a bearing on their times.

The winner was Andi Jones from Salford Harriers in an excellent time of 18 minutes.

Jones was followed by Mike Bouldstridge from Mercia in 18.32.

Last year's winner Ian Holmes from Bingley Harriers was third in 19.18. Holmes was the first home to have ran in both races.

First veteran 40 was Keswick Athletic Club's Kenny Stuart, who was seventh overall in 20.23. Stuart holds the Latrigg record of 16.37, set in 1984.

The veteran 50 prize went to Tony Bland from Borrowdale who was 43rd in 26.07.

The first over 60 was 70-year-old Ian Addison, a relative newcomer to Keswick AC, who finished in 29.20.

First lady was Natalie White, Holmfirth Harriers, in 22.43 followed by Sharon Taylor, Bingley Harriers, in 24.50. First over 40 lady was third placed, Lyn Thompson in 26.28 and the first lady 50 Ann Watmore, Dark Peak in 29.14.

Keswick A.C. won both the men's and the ladies team prizes.

In blisteringly hot conditions over tough courses designed for the Open British & Irish Junior Hill Running Champs in October all runners in the Junior Latrigg Race put in excellent performances.

Rosie Stuart, fresh from her triumphs in Europe, continued in her rich vein of form to win the Under-14 girls race.

Emma Stuart and Jonathon Walker posted easy wins in the Under-16 girls and Under-14 boys races.

Stuart is now looking forward to the World trophy Trials race at Grizedale Pike on Saturday.

Results: Under-12 girls: 1 Fiona Jordan (Ilkley) 11:04; 2 Hannah Gascoigne (UA) 14:26. Under-12 boys: 1 Tom Doyle (Helm Hill) 8:47; 2 Andrew Harrison (Burnley) 10:02; 3 Joe Quail (Keswick) 10:10. Under-14 girls: 1 Rosie Stuart (CFR) 18:26; 2 Jessica Bibby (Keswick) 22:07; 3 Rosie Cornthwaite (Keswick) 22:47. Under-14 boys: 1 Jonathon Walker (CFR) 17:18; 2 Grant Cunliffe (Burnley) 17:32; 3 Daniel Gaskell (CFR) 17:51. Undcer-16 girls: 1 Emma Stuart (CFR) 28:45; 2 Danielle Allen (Leigh Harriers) 31:50; 3 Sarah Yeomans (Rossendale) 37:00. Under-16 boys: 1 Blain Rooney (Border) 26:10l; 2 Ben Farrell (Keswick) 26:40; 3 James Walker (CFR) 28:45.

n ENTRIES are flooding in for a new race the Garburn Trial Race and Challenge on September 11.

The organisers have been particularly surprised by the response to the Challenge with more runners have entering this category than the Trail Race.

Race organiser Graham Patten, a former international orienteer and mountain runner, was inspired to include The Challenge after competing in many races overseas.

"Lots of people like to keep fit by running, but most fell races are just too physically demanding," he said.

"I wanted to put on a race that gets people into fantastic mountain scenery, but on relatively easy paths.

"In Europe, most races cater for those who just want to complete the course, so they start off before the main race. I thought it would take a year or two to catch on in the UK, but it's fantastic, I've been proved wrong."

The 20km course starts in Windermere, along footpaths and bridleways to Staveley, crossing the Garburn Pass. Taking in panoramic elevated views, the course must rate as the most scenic in England.

By starting The Challenge an hour before the Trail race, the organisers hope most will finish together. The junior races start at 12.30pm, and there are U12, U14, U16 and U18 classes, with entry on the day.

Entries to the Challenge and Trail Race are limited to 200, and the closing date for entries is August 26. E-mail for entry form to thegarbun@yahoo.co.uk