EIGHTEEN-year-old junior inter-national athlete Chris Doyle added to his numerous achievements last Sunday in Keswick when he became the British champion, writes Mike Addison.

In the colours of his country, Doyle, of Ulverston, led the England team to gold medals supported by Jonny Mellor (Liverpool) 2nd, Joshua Teece (Matlock) 6th and Stuart Hunn (Skipton) 13th.

Team England dominated the British and Ireland Junior championships with winners in all categories from U14s to U18s.

Over 200 young athletes competed over the steep, grassy slopes of Latrigg. From the start area to the top of Latrigg supporters from the four countries competing - England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland - lined the route and egged on the youngsters with words of encouragement.

In the girls' U18 race Kirkby Stephen's Sarah Tunstall was a very creditable second behind her England team mate Rachel Thompson who runs for Horwich.

Not to be outdone by his older brother Tom Doyle won the non-championship U12s race, holding off his Helm Hill team mate Rory Addison by four seconds in a field of 41 runners. Two other Helm Hill runners - Jos Addison and Niall Till - finished in the first five.

The U14s race was won by Central's Matthew Gillespie and the girls' race was won by Sarah Inglis of Lothian Running Club.

England's Alistair Brownlee, of Bingley, was a comfortable winner of the U16s race beating Welsh athlete Rhodri Buffet while Dionne Allen triumphed in the girls' race.

England manager Dave Woodhead said: "It was a great weekend and it was a privilege to be associated with such fine athletes. They excelled themselves."

RESULTS: Under 12s: Boys: 1 T Doyle, Helm Hill, 7-49; 2 R Addison, Helm Hill, 7-53; 3 J Quail, Keswick, 8-18; 4 J Addison, 8-19; 5 N Till, Helm Hill, 8-23; 10 M Cardus, Settle, 8-58; 13 M Penellum, Broughton, 9-19; 15 D Lund, Settle, 9-27; 16 P Metcalfe, Broughton, 9-34; 17 J Howe, Eden, 9-40; 22 K Lund, Settle, 10-03; 25 J Wright, Broughton, 10-16; 26 N Metcalfe, Broughton, 10-46; Girls: 1 B Petit, Holmfirth, 8-49; 4 M Morphet, CFR, 9-19; 8 C Kenyon, Eden, 9-54. Under 14s: Boys: 1 M Gillespie, Central AC, 16-05; 2 A Evans, Fife, 16-17; 3 J Mountain, Skipton, 17-13; 14 M Kenyon, Eden, 18-42; 15 B Morphet, CFR, 18-45; 17 W Fulton, Sedbergh, 18-52. Girls: 1 S Inglis, Lothian, 19-32. Under 16s: Boys: 1 A Brownlee, Bingley, 18-53; 2 R Buffet, Brecon, 19-17; 3 M Gillespie, Central, 20-04; 9 D Shepherd, Settle, 20-42; 15 T Addison, Helm Hill, 21-11; 32 M Nixon, Eden, 24-05; 33 L McRae, Broughton, 24-33. Girls: 1 D Allen, Leigh, 23-09; 18 L Campbell, Helm Hill. Under 18: 1 C Doyle, Trafford, 26-11; 2 J Mellor, Liverpool, 26-15; 3 K Cowie, Moray, 26-30; 26 N Orpwood, Sedbergh, 31-21; 27 A Crowe, Broughton, 31-33; 28 G Buckley, Sedbergh,33-45; 30 B Blezard, Sedbergh, 38-35. Girls: 1 R Thompson, Horwich, 30-16; 2 S Tunstall, Border, 31-42; 12 S Slater, Settle, 38-15.

n AMBLESIDE'S Nick Sharp won his third fell race of the season when he led home a field of over 200 runners in the 14-mile Langdale Horseshoe Race on Saturday.

Fresh from his win in the British championship race at the Two Breweries a fortnight previously, Sharp, who teaches at Flookburgh School, forged his way ahead some three miles from home on the climb to Pike O Blisco, dropping Borrowdale's Gavin Bland and Andrew Davies.

The race visits check points at Thurnacar Knott, Esk Hause, Bowfell, Crinkle Crags, Pike O'Blisco and Blea Tarn.

Four Ambleside runners were in the first ten with Sharp being supported by Dan Golding, Jon Deegan and Ian Mulvey.

"It was not a super fast first three quarters," said Sharp, who came home in a time of 2-07-57. "We all ran round together until I managed to get away going up Pike O Blisco.

"I was really chuffed. It's the end of the season and that's pretty much it from me now. I'm racing at Guildford this weekend and I will probably not race now until next March."

RESULTS: 1 N Sharp, Ambleside, 2-07-57; 2 G Bland, Borrowdale, 2-13-07; 3 A Davies, Borrowdale, 2-15-09; 4 J Hunt, CFR, 2-20-17; 5 D Golding, Ambleside, 2-20-52; 6 J Deegan, Ambleside, 2-20-56; 7 I Mulvey, Ambleside, 2-21-58; 8 C Hope, Borrowdale, 2-23-33; 9 M Robinson, Dark Peak, 2-33-42; 10 H Jones, unattached, 2-24-36; 15 J Murfin, Settle, 2-28-37; 17 A Pilkington, Settle, 2-28-46; 22 A Miller, Kendal, 2-30-01; 25 M Beresford, Kendal, 2-32-54; 40 G Allsopp, Settle, 2-39-13; 44 M Wynne, Settle, 2-39-45; 47 N Pike, Hoad Hill, 2-40-00; 57 N Wharton, Kendal, 2-44-00; 60 B Kennedy, Settle, 2-46-15; 62 M Horn, Settle, 2-47-04; 62 S Ruane, Eden, 2-47-04; 64 D Horsfall, Settle, 2-47-11; 75 J Osborne, Settle, 2-51-15; 78 R Jerram, Kendal, 2-52-47; 82 P Simpson, Kendal, 2-55-00; 86 R Gillespie, Eden, 2-56-36; 87 K White, Ambleside, 2-56-51; 97 H Jones, Dallam, 2-59-26; 104 S Clough, Ambleside, 3-01-08; 113 A Forrest, Ambleside, 3-05-46; 127 D Aspden, Dallam, 3-13-44; 137 R Smithust, Black Combe, 3-16-00; 145 N Ruane, Eden, 3-17-13; 153 S Wright, Ambleside, 3-22-37; 154 E Blakie, Ambleside, 3-23-25; 158 S Theobald, Kendal, 3-25-57; 159 P Lernelius, Kendal, 3-29-58; 170 A Bramhall, Ambleside, 3-23-39; 200 M Moorhead, Settle, 3-51-15; 208 J Taylor, Ambleside,3-57-38.