STAVELEY'S Rob Jebb 'beat some good lads' to finish second in Saturday's Ben Nevis race.

The four times winner of the ten mile event was among the favourites to do well but he was pleased to finish behind Lochaber's Finlay Wild.

"On paper I was fourth best runner, so I think second was good," said Jebb, 40, who runs for Bingley Harriers. "I beat some good lads but I'm not good enough now to beat Finlay."

Both Finlay Wild and Ellenborough's Ricky Lightfoot set the early pace along with Rossendale's Sam Tosh.

"I managed to catch Ricky quite early on in the climb and caught Sam after Red Burn," said Rob. "Finlay was miles ahead but once we got to the top half of the climb I got going and I was not too far behind at the summit.

"He is a really good descender and knows all the cuts. He beat me by more than five minutes so he really did motor down."

Wild clocked 1-30-56 with Jebb finishing in 1-36-01 with Tosh (1-37-20) in third. Glossopdale's Caitlin Rice (2-02-14) was first lady and was followed home by the South Lakeland pairing of Howgill's Heidi Dent (2-03-26) and Helm Hill's Sharon Taylor (2-03-58).

Meanwhile, Rob learnt on Sunday that he had won a bronze medal in the English championship although he did not compete in the final event at Guisborough.

Dufton's Morgan Donnelly and Helm Hill's Tom Addison were in with a chance of winning bronze but the pair were among the leading group of runners who went astray and ended up well down the field.

But both Ambleside ladies' teams ended up with a clean sweep as both the open team and veterans won gold in the English and British championships.

Some of South Lakeland and Eden's up and coming young fell runners will be pulling on England vests in the forthcoming British and Irish championships, which incorporates the Junior Home Internationals, on September 19 at Betws y Coed in Wales.

Helm Hill's Chris Richards and Borrowdale's Oscar Meanwell will be competing in the U20 men's race. Chris, who finished 14th at the International Youth Cup in Italy last year, was fourth in this year's English championship and will be the fourth time he has pulled on an England vest. Meanwell won the six race English championship series and this will be the first time he has pulled on an England vest as he was injured last year and unable to compete.

Helm Hill's Hannah Russell will be making her England debut in the U20 womans' race following a strong run at the World Championship trial. She was third in the English championship series.

Staveley's Jack Byrne will run in the U17 men's race along with Eden's Elliott Matier and Dallam's Jacob Steele. Helm Hill's Imogen Burrow has gained her first England vest following a determined run in the U17 trail race.