HELM Hill's Tom Addison won the Coniston Fell Race for a second year running by going out hard from the off.

The current English champion, who has been plagued by injuries during the early part of the year, made his intentions clear by opening a lead on the first climb up Muldrey Bank.

But a 'dodgy' route choice up a mist-covered Wetherlam allowed the chasing pack, including demon descenders Ted Mason and Ian Holmes, to claw back some early lost ground.

"They were not that far behind me going up Swirl How," said Addison, 25, who is sponsored by inov 8 and Pete Bland Sports. "There was only about 50-metres in it but I managed to pull away again going up towards Coniston Old Man."

Conditions on the top were wintry with runners battling freezing cold winds, rain and underfoot snow and the visibility was poor because of mist.

"I did not pick the best route off the Old Man and because I could not see the chasing runners behind me I was worried that they might have got a better line. I got a real adrenalin rush when I looked back and saw them coming through the cloud, it really pushed me on."

Addison won the 8.7-mile race, which includes 3,494ft of climbing, last year when it was an English championship counter but was a good five minutes behind his 2014 time because of the conditions. This year he clocked 1-12-32 and was followed over the line by Wharfedale's Ted Mason (1-12-49) and Bingley's Ian Holmes (1-13-01).

"It was a real battle against the elements but I was so relieved and chuffed to get the win. It sets me up well for this weekend's English championship race (Stretton Six Summits).

Ambleside's Gary Greenhow turned in a good performance to finish seventh in 1-2013.

Junior athletes from South Lakeland performed well in the opening English championship event, the Coiners Race from Mytholmroyd, near Hebden Bridge.

The under 10's race was won by Ambleside's Harry Bowen in a new record time of 8.45 and he beat his brother James by 11 seconds. Hoad Hill's Olesia Winder set a new girls' record of 9.54 and finished ninth overall just ahead of Ambleside's Sophie Rylance.

Kendal's Fraser Sproul (11.22) was first home in the under-12 race with just two seconds to spare from Keighley and Craven's Louis Hudson. First under 12 girl was Ambleside's Chloe Rylance in 12.50.

Helm Hill's Katie Thurlow (20.15) just missed out on winning the under-14 girls' race finishing just one second behind Clayton's Briony Josephine Holt.