SIX records tumbled in the seventh Kendal Winter League race of the season as runners made the most of the icy wind and firm underfoot conditions on Ulverston's Birkrigg Common, writes Mike Addison.

Ulverston's Chris Doyle had the added advantage of the race being on his training territory and, with the wind at his back on the steady climb back to the top of the common, he managed to lop 15 seconds off the previous best mark to clock 17min 28sec.

The only athlete to go with him was Helm Hill's Alastair Dunn but 45 seconds separated the pair at the finish with Bowland's Quentin Harding finishing third and first veteran.

Sharon Dixon won the ladies' race in 23-08 - well outside the record - with Nicky Lavery-Hoffe in second and Bowland's Sue Harding third.

Most exciting race of the day was the U14s boys event with four youngsters leading the charge to the finish line. There was nothing between them as they came over the hill on the descent to the finish with Rossendale's Sam Tosh emerging victorious despite the close attentions of Dallam's Alec Till, Settle's Matthew Fretwell and Helm Hill's Niall Till. All four of them were inside the old record mark of 9-06.

And Jenny Addison was pushed all the way to clip one second off the previous record - the margin by which she beat Rossendale's Katie Ireland.

Helm Hill's Tom Addison took 17 seconds off the U17 boys record while being pursued by Rossendale's Phil Bolton. Keswick's Emily Knox set a new best mark in the girls race, chopping 37 seconds off the old record while holding off Helm Hill's Lauren Campbell by a second.

Helm Hill team mates Rory Addison and Tom Doyle continued their dominance of the U12s race with nine seconds shaved off the previous record by Rory as Tom bore down on him in the race to the finish. Also catching the eye is Dallam's Melanie Hyder who threatened the girls record but fell three seconds short in finishing up with the leading boys.

Results: Senior Men: 1 C Doyle, Trafford, 17-28; 2 A Dunn, Helm Hill, 18-13; 3 Q Harding, Bowland, 18-33; 4 P Targett, Clayton, 18-36; 5 B Procter, Helm Hill, 18-55; 6 M Hoffe, Helm Hill, 19-06; 7 J Meyfroidt, Helm Hill, 19-16; 8 D Roome, Bowland, 19-23; 9 S Addison, Helm Hill, 19-30; 10 M Addison, Helm Hill, 19-33. Senior women: 1 S Dixon, 23-08; 2 N Lavery Hoffe, Helm Hill, 23-56; 3 S Harding, Bowland, 24-46. Boys U17: 1 T Addison, Helm Hill, 14-33; 2 P Bolton, Rossendale, 15-05; 3 J Livesey, Howgill, 16-01. Girls U17: 1 E Knox, Keswick, 18-46; 2 L Campbell, Helm Hill, 18-47; 3 G Biddle, Pendle, 22-51. Boys U14: 1 S Tosh, Rossendale, 8-45; 2 A Till, Dallam, 8-47; 3 M Fretwell, Settle, 8-51. Girls U14: 1 J Addison, Helm Hill, 10-04; 2 K Ireland, Rossendale, 10-05; 3 J Bibby, Keswick, 10-15. Boys U12: 1 R Addison, Helm Hill, 4-42; 2 T Doyle, Helm Hill, 4-51; 3 T Messenger Jones, Broughton, 4-55. Girls U12: 1 M Hyder, Dallam, 5-01; 2 M Morphet, CFR, 5-34; 3 A Fretwell, Settle, 5-45.