TIME finally caught up with Paul Muller, who has made the Great Langdale half-marathon his own with five straight wins.

This year the veteran could not compete with the pace of Steve Littler, who clocked 78min 34sec for the hilly course round the picturesque valley, Muller finishing just over a minute behind him and having to be content this time with the Over 45 veterans title.

Rachel Sutcliffe, of Riverside Runners, was first female and also first women over 35 as she came home 26th overall in the field of 348 runners who tackled the course.

Another 66 runners completed in the full marathon with Clayton-le-Moor runner Philip Atherton striding to victory with 23 minutes to spare over second-placed Jim Rogers, of East Hull Harriers.

There was a fine run from Karen Senior, of Sheffield, who finished first female and 13th overall.

Results: Half-marathon: 1 Steve Littler, Wesham, 1:18:34; 2 & 1st MV45 Paul Muller, Horwich, 1:19:36; 3 Alasdair Tatham, Quaker, 1:22:29; 4 Steve Angus, Border, 1:23:03; 5 Jason Barlow, North Fylde, 1:25:08; 6 Paul Targett, Clayton, 1:25:55; 7 Jonathan Moore, Stainland Lions, 1:26:33; 8 Richard Johnson, Swaledale, 1:26:43; 10 & 1st MV55 Jimmy Bell, Elswick, 1:27:26; 11 & 1st MV40 John Carr, Lancaster & Morecambe, 1:27:33; 12 Chris Rhodes, Westmorland Tri, 1:28:08; 25 & 1st MV 50 Leslie Crownsham, Killmarsh Kestrals, 1:34:46; 26 1st female & 1st FV35 Rachel Sutcliffe, Riverside Runners, 1:34:50; 29 Tony Price, Lancaster & Morecambe, 1:36:03; 34 & 2nd female Erika Johnson, Swaledale, 1:38:24; 36 & 3rd female Rachel Brown, Eden Road Runners, 1:38:27; 56 Ian Mitchell, Helm Hill, 1:42:48; 58 & 1st FV40 Rebecca Adams, Derwent 1:42:56; 61 & 1st MV60 Phil Robinson, Otley, 1:43:19; 104 & 1st FV45 Helen Witham, Teesdale, 1:47:52; 111 Stephen White, Lancaster & Morecambe, 1:48:25; 120 Louise Riley, Lancaster & Morecambe, 1:49:20; 132 Patric Gilchrist, Keswick 1:51:15;136 Sue Oxley, Helm Hill, 1:51:56; 152 Paul Percival-Smith, Kendal, 1:53:22; 153 & 1st MV60 Carroll Graham, Helm Hill 1:53:30; 176 & 1st MV65 Eric Nutter, Swaledale, 1:56:00; 231 &1st FV65 Eilenn Armstrong, Tynedale, 2:05:03; 318 & 1st FV65 Glenys Nutter, Ripon, 2:25:30; 338 & 1st MV70 John Newby, Todmorden, 2:41:22.

Marathon: 1 Philip Atherton, Clayton-le-Moors, 03:05:26; 2 & 1st MV40 Jim Rogers, East Hull Harriers, 03:29:26; 3 Mark Hutcheson, Leeds & Bradford Tri Club, 03:33:12; 4 John Myatt, Keswick AC, 03:37:47; 5 & 1st MV55 Graham Baker, Road Runners Club, 03:38:17; 6 Robert Hall-McNair, Hinkley RC, 03:44:21; 7 & 1st MV45 Paul Grimsdale, Oxford City, 03:45:24; 8 & 1st MV50 Howard Jardine, Grange Farm Trotters, 03:46:40; 13 & 1st female Karen Senior, Sheffield, 3:58:10; 14 & 2nd female Lynn Hamel, Kendal AC, 03:58:52; 15 Andrew Adams, Derwent AC, 04:01:10; 21 & 3rd female Sarah Rogers, 04:05:34; 23 Gerry Hehir, Crook AC, 04:06:13; 26 Karl Fursey, Black Combe, 04:09:09; 28 Caroline Brown, Grange Farm Trotters, 4:13:48; 30 & 1st FV55 Verne Barlthrop, Road Runners, 4:16:12; 32 & 1st FV50 Gabrielle Eastoe, unattached, 04:21:52; 45 & 1st FV50, Freda Verrill, unattached, 4:40:59; 46 & 1st MV55 Kevin Ryder, Loftus, 4:40:59; 61 & 1st FV55 Lyn Eden, Nidd Valley, 5:24:58 62 & 1st MV60 James Waters, 100 Marathon Club, 5:32:08