FOURTEEN seconds covered the first four runners home in Saturday's Langdale Horseshoe Fell Race.

Rossendale's Sam Tosh led the field home in 2-11-57 with just one second to spare over Morgan Donnelly, of Dufton, who runs for Borrowdale.

Also in the tightly-packed leading group was Andy Fallas (2-12-01), of Carnethy, and Ambleside's Ben Abdelnoor (2-12-11).

Other local runners near the front included Helm Hill's Kieran Hodgson (2-14-25), who was sixth, Ambleside JohnHelme (2-18-24), in tenth, Helm Hill's Adam Perry (2-18-44), 11th and Ambleside's Nigel Wood (2-21-46) and Paul Tierney (2-23-07) who were 16th and 17th.

Jasmin Paris, from Carnethy, was first lady home in 2-26-24 and only three minutes outside the ladies' record. Second was Heather Marshall (2-40-29), of Totley, and third was Kersin Leslie, of Dalbeattie. Local ladies were few and far between with Sally Ward (unattached) first LV50 and Milnthorpe's Wendy Dodds, who runs for Clayton-le-Moors, first LV60.

The excellent weather attracted a field of more than 400 runners for the 21.1 kilometre race which involves 1,450 metres of ascent visiting the summits of Thurnacar Knott, Bowfell, Crinkle Crags and Pike O'Blisco.

In spite of the dry weather, the course was quite wet, but injuries were limited to the usual gashes and sprains.

There was a good number of runners travelling long distances - Scotland and Northern Ireland - to take part in this year's race with London (Wimbledon Windmilers) featuring strongly and one Brit running for a Danish club!