HELM Hill Runners became the first English club in 13 years to win one of UK fell running’s most iconic prizes.

Not since Ambleside Athletic Club in 2003 has a club from south of the border won the men’s team prize at the Carnethy Five Hill Race in Scotland.

That all changed on Saturday when Kendal-based Helm Hill Runners, celebrating their 25th anniversary year, returned with the claymore, a two-handed 5ft longsword that has been awarded to the winning men’s team every year since 1971.

The race, held in the Pentland hills just south of Edinburgh, sees runners tackle a gruelling 10km course that involves 760m of ascent over five heather-clad summits.

A total of 515 – including 28 from Helm Hill – left the start line to the sound of bagpipes before getting stuck into the first steep climb up Scald Law.

Just under 50 minutes later, winner Andrew Douglas, from Inverclyde, descended off the final, rocky summit of Carnethy Hill and raced to the finish line.

Behind him, Helm Hill’s men became embroiled in a fierce battle with host club Carnethy for the right to claim the claymore.

With the top-four finishing positions of each club’s runners contributing towards a team score, Helm Hill packed to the fore. Reigning English Fell Running champion Tom Addison led the way in sixth, with cousin Mark Addison tenth, Kieran Hodgson 11th and Paul Aitken 14th. Helm Hill’s cumulative score of 41 points edged out nine-time winners Carnethy, who totalled 46 points.

Helm Hill club co-president Billy Procter said: “To finally win the claymore after several years of trying is a fell running dream come true.

“As a club, Helm Hill has grown phenomenally since its formation in 1990 and to add the Carnethy team victory to our honours list is the perfect way to kick off our 25th anniversary year.

“I am so proud of what the team achieved in Scotland – not just the four lads whose points counted towards the prize, but everyone behind them who battled hard to finish as high as possible and deny runners from other clubs more points.”

Helm Hill’s ladies turned in a strong performance to finish fifth in the women’s standings, while Chris Richards added yet more silverware to his trophy cabinet with victory in the junior’s race.

Martin Mikkelsen-Barron and Jim Davies, both of Borrowdale Fell Runners, finished fifth and ninth respectively. Ambleside's Paul Tierney also crossed in a respectable 12th place.