MOUNTAIN rescue teams and air ambulance crews were called-in on an eventful day at the Langdale Horseshoe Fell Race on October 11.

The race started in rain and fog and conditions proved too treacherous for some of the 375 competitors trying to battle for supremacy on the 21.1km course.

The Langdale and Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team were called out three times and two competitors had to be airlifted to hospital in Whitehaven.

One competitor dislocated an ankle, one broke their wrist and another sustained a nasty gash to their knee.

Despite the volume of injuries there were some impressive performances.

Rhys Finlay-Robinson of Dark Peak finished first in a time of two hours 16 minutes just managing to outsprint George Grayson of Borrowdale. Jim Davies, also of Borrowdale, was third.

After a string of fine individual performances it was no surprise that the Borrowdale team came in third overall.

For the women, Judith Jepson came home first in a time of two hours 44 minutes and the Dark Peak team were victorious.

Event organiser Roger Bell, from Ambleside, said: "It is quite a risky sport but to be fair there hasn't been too many serious incidents in the last 20 years and that's a good result. This year was the worst for serious injuries for a long while and that was probably because it was a bit slippery because rain had just fallen on dry ground. The injuries could have happened in good weather too. Overall the event was a great success with a great crowd and even the sun came out at the end."

Elsewhere, the Wasdale Show Fell Race lived up to its reputation as one of the most exciting short runs around.

The race was originally started as a competition between local farmers, their families and farm hands but is now the main attraction of the show.

More than 100 people gathered on the Showfield at Wasdale Camp Site to take part in the 802 metre ascent of the Kirk Fell summit on Saturday, October 11.

Keswick's Chris Edis romped home in first with a time of 38minutes 59 seconds - just seven minutes outside the all time course record.

Paul Lambert finished second with just 20 seconds between him and Edis.

Dark Peak runner Mike Robinson came in third in just over 40 minutes while his wife, Hazel, was the first lady finishing seven minutes behind him.

It was a great day for the Kendal-based Helm Hill running club in the under 17 race as Jacob Aubrey finished third in the boys' event in a time of 26minutes 33 seconds - one minute behind the eventual winner, Thomas Nelson, from Wharfedale Harriers.

The Helm Hill girls, Katherine Lawson and Mia Senior, finished second and third respectively in their event.

Katherine finished in a time of 30 minutes 51 seconds less than half a minute behind the winner but the gulf in class between the top two runners and the rest of the pack was obvious - third placed Mia Senior came home nine minutes later.