PUDSEY and Bramley's Rob Hope relished the cool and fresh conditions for Saturday's third English championship counter and came close to establishing a new course record for the gruelling 18-mile Duddon Fell Race.

The current British champion is in excellent form and looked relaxed out in front as he completed the circuit of Harter, Hardknott, Little Stand, Swirl How, Dow Crag, White Pike and Caw in 2-44-01 - a minute and 26 seconds outside the 2007 record set by Bingley's Ian Holmes.

He was dogged for most of the way by the in-form Rhys Findley-Robinson, of Dark Peak, who was second in 2-46-14 with Calder Valley's Karl Gray emerging from the chasing group to finish third in 2-48-15.

Staveley's Rob Jebb was the best placed South Lakeland athlete in fifth place (2-50-41) behind Wharfedale's Ted Mason (2-49-16) while the defending English champion, Helm Hill's Tom Addison, struggled with severe cramp and had to settle for seventh in 2-51-43.

There were good performances from Helm Hill's Kieran Hodgson (15th in 2-57-49), Ambleside's Ben Abdelnoor (18th in 2-59-19), Helm Hill's Mark Addison (19th in 2-59-26) and Helm Hill's Nigel Wood (21st in 3-01-58).

Borrowdale's Mark Roberts turned in a gutsy performance to finish second MV50 in 3-09-22, losing out to Dark Peak's Dave Taylor (3-03-41).

Helm Hill's Sharon Taylor paced her race perfectly to lead home the ladies finishing in a very creditable 61st position overall in a respectable 3-23-26. Her nearest challenger was Glossopdale's Caitlin Rice who was 76th in 3-27-17 while Ambleside's Jane Reedy pushed her close to finish third in 3-28-24. Ambleside ladies won the team prize. There were 295 finishers.

The 'short' ten mile race was won by Tim Austin, unattached, in 1-35-23, with the ladies' race being won byAmelia Voice in 2-02-53. Black Combe's Peter Tayler was first V50 finishing seventh in 1-41-48. There were 45 finishers.

Ambleside's Annie Conway (37-34) was second in the European Trial race at Glenridding, just 13 seconds behind Bingley's Victoria Wilkinson (37-21). Kendal's Rebecca Robinson (38-23) placed fourth and Black Combe's Anna Lupton (41-14) put in a workmanlike performance to finish 11th. The senior men's race was won by Inverclyde's Andrew Douglas.

The first-ever running of the Ingleton Scenery Off Road Race attracted a field of 93 runners with the five-mile event, which included 800ft of climbing, being won by Derwent's Tom Durcan in 29-27. Settle's Paul Webb was second in 29-54 with Barlick's Stephen Chew (30-31) in third. Black Combe's Harvey Lord was sixth in 31-27.

Helm Hill's Melanie Hyder (35-13) was a comfortable winner of the ladies' race finishing in 23rd overall more than a minute ahead of Edinburgh University's Zoe Harding (36-15).

Ambleside's Jane Reedy was first lady home in the Caw Fell Race, completing the six-mile route from Broughton Mills, which included 1,800ft of climbing, in 60-35. She was followed home by clubmate Lou Roberts (62-37) and Sharon Dixon (66-14) of Glaxo Hoad Hill Harriers. The senior men's race was won by Pudsey & Bramley's John Heneghan in 50-07.