THE future of fell running was on show at Sedbergh on Saturday as the town hosted a junior English championship event, writes Mike Addison.

Some of the country's top young runners were competing over testing courses centred on Winder and there were some exciting races over sodden ground.

Ulverston's Tom Doyle and Kendal's Jonathan Wright were in contention in the under-12 junior boys' race but were beaten by Keighley and Craven's Thomas Sessford, finishing second and fourth respectively.

The girls' race was won by Holmfirth's Amy McGivern who finished ninth overall, while Helm Hill's Jenny Addison was third, nine seconds behind Beth Petit who also runs for Holmfirth.

Keswick's Ted Yates held off Preston's Richard Shuttle-worth to win the under-14 boys' race, while Ingleton's Ben Morphet turned in a gutsy performance to finish third. His Cumberland Fell Runners' team-mate Rosie Stuart won the girls' race.

Settle's David Shepherd triumphed in the under 14s race after taking the lead from Helm Hill's Tom Addison at the summit turn. Addison had led the field to the top of Winder but slipped back to fourth at the finish, crossing the line with Skipton's Matthew Hurst. CFR's Emma Stuart won the girls' race.

Ulverston's Chris Doyle was a comfortable winner of the under-18 race, beating Matlock's Joshua Teece by a margin of 31 seconds. First under 18 girl was Horwich's Rachel Thompson.

The senior fell race was won by Colin Donnelly, who runs for Ron Hill Cambuslang. He was locked in a fascinating duel over the 14-mile course with Joe Blackett with just five seconds separating the pair at the finish.

Kirkby Stephen's Peter Brittleton, who is now running for Helm Hill, had led the 80-strong field on the initial climb up Winder but slipped back to ninth place ahead of Kendal's Allan Miller who was fifth veteran.

Calder Valley's Clare Kenny was the first woman in 43rd place, but not far adrift was Clayton's Wendy Dodds, of Milnthorpe, 46th and first LV50 in 3-03-59.

Results: Seniors: 1 C Donnelly, Ron Hill, 2-13-22; 2 J Blackett, North Yorks Moors, 2-13-27; 3 A Schofield, Borrowdale, 2-14-11; 4 J McQueen, Eryri, 2-21-11; 5 A Ward, Dark Peak, 2-28-32; 6 A Brown, CLEM, 2-29-52; 7 C Smale, Todmorden, 2-30-14; 8 R Owen, Eryri, 2-33-26; 9 P Brittleton, Helm Hill, 2-33-50; 10 A Miller, Kendal, 2-36-51; 19 S Horsley, 2-41-53; 28 P Clark, Kendal, 2-46-32; 38 A Shepherd, Settle, 2-57-44; 46 W Dodds, CLEM, 3-03-59; 49 R Jerram, Kendal, 3-04-59; 51 R Cannon, Helm Hill, 3-06-18; 59 D Aspden, Dallam, 3-18-10; 61 A Forrest, Ambleside, 3-21-10; 66 D Till, Helm Hill, 3-26-05; 68 W Percival, Ambleside, 3-29-42; 74 J King, Helm Hill, 3-45-42.

Juniors: Under-12: Boys: 1 T Sessford, Keighley & Craven, 12-39; 2 T Doyle, Helm Hill, 12-52; 3 R Gould, East Cheshire, 13-14; 4 J Wright, Helm Hill, 13-47; 6 J Addison, Helm Hill, 14-14; 10 S Fisher, Howgill, 14-29. Girls: 1 A McGivern, Holmfirth, 14-28; 2 B Petit, Holmfirth, 14-53; 3 Jenny Addison, Helm Hill, 15-02. Under-14: Boys: 1 T Yates, Keswick, 15-07; 2 R Shuttleworth, Preston, 15-22; 3 B Morphet, CFR, 15-27. Girls: 1 R Stuart, CFR, 16-26; 2 H Timmins, Warrington, 17-54; 3 R Searson, Blackburn, 18-38. Under-16: Boys: 1 D Shepherd, Settle, 18-27; 2 M Jones, Holmfirth, 19-14; 3 M Hurst, Skipton, 19-20; 4 T Addison, Helm Hill, 19-20; 10 R Thornborrow, Helm Hill, 20-04. Girls: 1 E Stuart, CFR, 21-53; 2 D Allen, Leigh, 22-15; 3 R McGivern, Holmfirth, 25-28. Under- 18: Boys: 1 C Doyle, Trafford, 24-11; 2 J Teece, Matlock, 24-42; 3 S Hunn, Skipton, 24-58. Girls: 1 R Thompson, Horwich, 30-14; 2 L Griffiths, Holmfirth, 33-08; 3 K Cole, Horwich, 35-48.

n THERE was a turnout of 34 runners for the eight mile Weasdale Horseshoe Fell Race from the Raven-stonedale Show Field, Newbiggin-on-Lune, with the first athlete home being Helm Hill's Paul Brittleton.

Paul has finished second on 14 occasions this season but this victory marks his second win in recent weeks, following on from his triumph in the Inov-8 Kirkcarrion Race from Middleton in Teesdale.

The race goes from the showfield to the hamlet of Weasdale on to the summit of Hooksey, Randy Gill Top and Green Bell.

Second place and the first V40 prize went to Howgill's Graham Moffatt who is recovering from injury. The first woman was Liz Batt of Buxton in 1-13-48.

Results: 1 Paul Brittleton, Helm Hill, 1-01-18; 2 G Moffatt, Howgill, 1-02-32; 3 M Chippendale, Bowland, 1-03-17; 4 M Heyes, Eryri, 1-04-46; 5 S Moffatt, Howgill, 1-05-15; 6 M Walsh, Kendal, 1-07-09; 7 M Johnson, unattached, 1-07-27; 8 G Davies, unattached, 1-08-52; 9 K Dacre, Kendal, 1-10-31; 10 M Beresford, Kendal, 1-10-39.