Stainer shines on descent

10:25am Friday 4th April 2008

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FELL RUNNING: Ambleside's Simon Stainer was victorious on his home turf as he led home a field of 105 runners in Wednesday night's Loughrigg Fell Race (4 miles, 1,000ft) from Rothay Park.

He was chased hard by Helm Hill's Tom Addison as the duelling pair pulled away from the chasing pack and rounded the summit pinnacle together.

But Stainer broke Addison on the descent and took some better lines than the tired teenager, who was being rapidly closed down by Ambleside's Ben Abdelnoor, returning to fitness following a recent trip to New Zealand. Twenty-one seconds covered the first three runners home with Stainer clocking 27-50, 13 seconds ahead of Addison (28-03).

There was a close finish in the V40 race with Ambleside's Gary Thorpe (30-15) edging it by three seconds from Bowland's Chris Reade, finishing seventh and eighth respectively.

Junior England international Rosie Stuart of Keswick was the first lady home showing her battling qualities to come home in 38th position with team mate Louise Roberts second (35-57) in 46th place.

n HELM Hill's Tom Addison triumphed in the final Kendal Winter League race of the season from Sedbergh.

The last race was a precursor to the prize-giving ceremony and did not count towards the championship that Addison had already wrapped up at the end of ten races.

The climb on to Arant Haw and Winder is one of the hardest races of the series and Addison had his work cut out holding off Horwich's Darren Kay, the pre-event favourite.

Pudsey and Bramley's Gary Devine led the field out on the initial climb but on the steeper ground Addison pulled through the field and on the run over the ridge to the top of Arant Haw had a healthy 150 metre lead over Kay.

Kay came back at him after descent of Arant Haw but after the steep descent of Winder Addison was still well clear and won by a 34-second margin.

Mark Addison outsprinted Borrowdale's Andrew Schofield in the finishing field for third while Pudsey & Bramley's Gary Devine was a close fifth.

Milnthorpe's Wendy Dodds turned in an excellent performance to win the women's race in 30th position well clear of Keswick's Debbie Thompson and Wharfedale's Kate Rogan who were 52nd and 53rd.

Ulverston's Tom Doyle (Helm Hill) bided his time on the climb as sixth runners headed the field in a closely contested U17 race before accelerating away on the descent to lead home Tom Sessford (Keighley and Craven) and Jonathan Bradshaw (Wharfedale). Helm Hill's Melanie Hyder was first girl from Kate Donovan (unattached) and Amy Fretwell (Settle).

Rory Addison (Helm Hill) was a comfortable winner of the U14 boys' race while Dallam's Robin Goodfellow was first girl.

Bingley's James Hall beat Wharfedale's Ben Johnson and Helm Hill's David Goad to the line in the U12 race while Megan Stuart was first U12 girl from Broughton's Kay Wright.