THE curtain came down on the Kendal Winter League season with Inverclyde's Tom Tipping winning the final race on Kendal's Helm Hill, writes Mike Addison.

Tipping, who lives in Kendal, was a clear victor with nearly two minutes between him and second placed Quentin Harding, of Bowland, who had already won the championship prior to this race. Harding, who also won the veteran title, held off a concerted challenge from Helm Hill's Ian Atkinson who in turn could not afford to relax with team mate Shaun Addison breathing down his neck.

Settle's Karen Slater again underlined her status as champion in the ladies' race while her daughter Sheryl triumphed in the U17s event. Kendal's Carl Robinson upset the form book in the U17 boys' race by beating Trafford's Chris Doyle with Robert Blenkharn coming third.

The prospect of winning Easter eggs and a free Crme egg to all finishers attracted bigger then normal fields in the junior events. Helm Hill's Ryan Thornborrow won the U14s race while Gemma Crowther found the flatter going much more to her liking and her track training meant she showed the other lads as well as the girls a clean pair of heels.

Jonathan Wright won the U12s race but was threatened all the way to the line by Helm Hill's Jenny Addison who was not quite quick enough and finished just one second behind.

RESULTS: Senior men: 1 T Tipping, Inverclyde, 29-57; 2 Q Harding, Bowland, 31-56; 3 I Atkinson, Helm Hill, 32-31; 4 S Addison, Helm Hill, 32-52; 5 D Scholes, Keighley & Craven, 33-25; 6 M Addison, Helm Hill, 33-44; 7 M Walsh, Kendal, 34-04; 8 H Gott, Northern Vets, 35-32; 9 P Tuson, Kendal, 36-02; 10 R Cannon, Helm Hill, 36-14. Ladies: 1 K Slater, Settle, 37-58; 2 S Harding, Bowland, 41-47; 3 K Rogan, Wharfedale, 46-22. Boys U17: 1 C Robinson, Kendal, 14-05; 2 C Doyle, Trafford, 14-21; 3 R Blenkharn, Helm Hill, 15-37. Girls U17: 1 S Slater, Settle, 19-38; 2 G Robinson, Kendal, 22-22; 3 S Morphet, unattached, 27-00. Boys U14: 1 R Thornborrow, Helm Hill, 6-32; 2 T Addison, Helm Hill, 6-46; 3 B Morphet, CFR, 7-04. Girls U14: 1 G Crowther, Helm Hill, 6-44; 2 R Parkinson, Helm Hill, 7-46; 3 K Robinson, Helm Hill, 9-13. Boys U12: 1 J Wright, Helm Hill, 3-59; 2 A Till, Dallam, 4-01; 3 M Fretwell, unattached, 4-05. Girls U12: 1 J Addison, Helm Hill, 4-00; 2 C Schofield, unattached, 5-00; 3 M Morphet, CFR, 5-02.

April 17, 2003 16:30