AMBLESIDE finished third team in the 17th UK Athletics British Fell and Hill Running Relay Champ- ionships at Alva in Scotland, on Sunday, writes Mike Addison.

The four legs - two individual and two run in pairs with the third leg requiring navigational skills - were centred in the Ochil Hills and involved steep, grassy climbs and descents with plenty of heather and tussocks to negotiate.

John Deegan got the Ambleside team off to an excellent start on leg one (7km/730m of ascent), coming home eighth before handing over the map - which acted as a baton - to Dan Golding after recording time of 50-10.

First team home after the first leg were Kendal with Sedbergh's Joe Symonds (46-33) reaching the change over a minute and 45 seconds ahead of Pudsey and Bramley's Danny Hope (48-18) and Bowland's Sean Bolland (48-48).

Leg two (6km/430m) was the shortest and appeared to suit Golding, who moved Ambleside into sixth place, clocking 29-44.

Dark Peak's Robert Little (27-20) ran the fastest time to move his team through to first place with Pudsey and Bramley in close pursuit after Steve Neill registered 28-15.

Matt Reidy and Tony Smith guided Ambleside to third place after the navigational leg, their time of 1-18-53 being the sixth fastest. Dark Peak and Pudsey & Bramley extended their lead with Olly Johnson and Andy Middleditch recording 1-14-31 and Garry Devine and Steve Bottomley handing over after 1-15-15. The fastest team on this leg were Mercia's Pete Vale and Andy Yapp (1-14-17).

Ambleside made up some ground on Pudsey & Bramley on the leg four (13km/1,150ft), which feat-tured a big climb on to Ben Cleuch and Ben Ever, with Simon Stainer and Nick Sharp (1-14-56) gaining over a minute on Jon Heneghan and Rob Hope (1-15-59). But Dark Peak pulled further away from the rest of the field with Tim Austin and Lloyd Taggart getting the fastest time of 1-12-09.

Despite their excellent start Kendal's A team faded to 15th place despite the best efforts of Matthew Beresford (34-37), Gavin Thomas and Allan Miller (1-25-09) and Mike Walsh and Phil Whiting (1-27-19).

Helm Hill's A team finished ninth team overall with the team comprising of Alastair Dunn (49-25), who was seventh after the first leg, Tom Tipping (31-32), Billy Procter and Ian Atkinson (1-23-15), and Paul and Peter Brittleton (1-23-18).

Pudsey and Bramley (4-02-47) had the first veterans team to finish placing sixth just ahead of Carnethy (4-03-27) with Clayton (4-09-05) in 12th. The first women's team were Carnethy (4-39-47) followed by Ilkley (4-56-41) and Keswick (5-06-21).

RESULTS: Dark Peak A, 3-42-11; 2 Pudsey & Bramley, 3-47-47; 3 Ambleside, 3-53-43; 4 Mercia, 3-54-52; 5 Lothian, 4-00-29; 9 Helm Hill A 4-07-30; 15 Kendal A , 4-13-38; 32 Ambleside B, 4-36-34; 38 Helm Hill Vets, 4-43-42; 43 Kendal B, 4-51-01; 53 Helm Hill B, 5-02-35; 59 Dallam, 5-07-01; 62 Howgill, 5-08-55; 72 Ambleside Ladies,5-35-01; 79 Helm Hill Ladies, 5-30-45.