AFTER two years of appalling weather for the event, blazing sunshine greeted runners in the Hutton Roof Crags race on Saturday, allowing the field to enjoy the limestone tracks and scenic views.

Two athletes from Ellenborough AC near Maryport, Ricky Lightfoot and Brian Taylor, set a blistering paces, giving previous winner Lee Siemaszko a hard time.

Although the route is well flagged because traditionally a lot of road runners take part, the two front-runners nevertheless went slightly wrong at the base of Farleton Knott, giving Kendal AC's Craig Roberts chance to attack up the scree slope, but victory was to evade him yet again.

Lightfoot's chance was not materially affected and he kept on the pressure to win in 47min 20secs - 41 seconds from Siemaszko, who was second in 48-01, ahead of Taylor, who took third in 49-21.

Roberts was fourth and first Vet 40 in 49-26, while his fellow Kendal clubman Paul Dugdale had a good run, enjoying the fast early pace to be fifth on the climb to the Knott before fading a little and finishing eighth. Chris Doyle was the first Helm Hill man home, 10th in 51-42, ahead of a threesome of club colleagues in Billy Procter, Chris Robinson and Jeffrey Chadwick, who were 15th, 16th and 17th.

First owman back was Jo Waites of Calder Valley in 55-35, ahead of clubmate Sally Newman (57-26), also first veteran, and Sarah Charnock (6102), of Achille Ratti.

The junior race winners were Jack Dickinson U16, Alex Brown U14 and Jake Crowther U12.

The race is held as part of the traditional country fair on the day, with the locals out in force to help with marshalling and timekeping to ensure the event is run successfully.

n Borrowdale Fell Runners filled the first four places in the Helvellyn Fell Race on Sunday.

Leading the 92 finishers home was Nimrod Lockwood (1-53-00), who had more than a minute to spare over James archbold (1-54-11) and Barry Wilkinson (1-54-15 in second and third.

First South Lakes runner was Neil Ashcroft of Ambleside AC (1-59-42) with Gavin Thomas of Kendal AC 16th in 2-05-11. Bingley's Natalie White (2-01-01) was first woman home.

Bendrigg run TIM Farron, the MP for Westmorland and Lonsdale, will start this year's Bendrigg 10K on Saturday, June 9 and then slot in to run the race.

The 10k is run from Bendrigg Lodge at Old Hutton, near Kendal (2pm start) and there will also be a two-mile fun run (2.10pm start).

Old Hutton Primary School are combining with the Bendrigg's summer fete and will be running al the stalls and entertainment. There will be the usual attractions of climbing/abseiling, an adventure course, archery, tube slide, games and teas Entry for the 10K is £5 for club runners, £7 unattached.