SOUTH Lakeland athletes were well to the fore in the second English championship race of the season in the Midlands.

Defending champion Tom Addison, of Helm Hill, won the Stretton Six Summits (6.3 miles/3,248ft) after a terrific tussle with Dufton's Morgan Donnelly and Mercia's Simon Bailey.

"Morgan was really strong on the climbs and Simon kept coming through on the descents," said Addison, 25, who is sponsored by inov8 and Pete Bland Sports. "I was trying to cover their moves as best as I could."

Addison did not "show his hand" until the final climb up Ashlet where he pulled away from the chasing pair. It was on this climb that Pudsey and Bramley's Rob Hope pulled through to overtake Donnelly and Bailey and claim second place.

Addison (59-01) held him off to win by 13 seconds with Borrowdale's Donnelly (59-17) in third, Bailey (59-25) in fourth and Staveley's Rob Jebb, who runs for Bingley, placing fifth in 59-56.

"I was so chuffed to win," said Addison, who finished sixth in the opening race at Flower Scar, near Todmorden. "It puts me back in with a shout of trying to defend my championship after a disappointing start."

Ambleside's Tommy Horton (1-02-30) is one to watch in the future and was first U23 in 13 position overall, beating Dark Peak's Jonathon Crickmore who was 14th in 1-02-43. Borrowdale's Mark Roberts (1-05-51), who lives in Kendal, was the first MV50 in 29th place overall.

The ladies' race was won by the ever-improving Annie Conway (1-06-55), of Ambleside AC, who placed 33rd overall and was almost a minute ahead of defending English champion Victoria Wilkinson (1-07-50), of Bingley, a further five places behind. She was supported by team mate Sarah McCormack (1-10-22) who was third lady. There were 310 finishers.

BORROWDALE'S Simon Booth was a comfortable winner of Saturday's Buttermere Sailbeck (15km/1,315 metres) race with his nearest rival more than five minutes behind.

Booth completed the circuit, which takes in Ard Craggs, Causey Pike, Crag Hill and Whiteless Pike, in 1-34-29 and was followed home by team mates Paul Cornforth (1-39-37) and Steve Birkinshaw (1-39-59).

South Lakeland athletes to turn in good performances were Ambleside's Bryan Wakeley (1-47-19) who was tenth and Black Combe's Tim Rimmer (1-48-29) who finished 11th.

Keswick's Catherine Spurden (1-53-09) won the ladies' race. There were 115 finishers.