THE Edmondson brothers tasted success on their own doorstep as they won junior races at Saturday's Coniston Gullies event.

Joe Edmondson, who lives in the village, triumphed in the U17 race, which climbs up Mouldry Bank to Rascal How and back, in 9-07, nine seconds ahead of Helm Hill's Jacob Aubrey (9-16) with Ambleside's Luke Bowen (10-00) finishing third.

Clayton's Briony Holt (11-56) was first girl with Wharfedale's Emily Jones (13-49) second and Helm Hill's Katie Russell (14-57) third.

Joe's younger brother, Ben, won the U14 race from Wharfedale's Alexander Thompson (7-01) and Settle Harriers' Thomas Marshall (7-06). First girl was Rossendale Harriers' Lauryn Gregg (8-10), followed by Wharfedale's Alice Jones (8-14) and third was Helm Hill's Lottie Beardwood (8-27).

The U12 race boys' podium was a repeat of the recent Sedbergh race with first place going to Ambleside's James Bowen (5-02), second to Helm Hill's Henry Hunter (5-12) and third to Ambleside team mate and twin, Harry Bowen (5-21).

The first girl was Broughton's Emily Swarbrick (6-12), two seconds ahead of Keighley and Craven's Beth Roberts with Hoad Hill's Bethan Saunders (6-24) in third.

The U9 race was won by Ambleside's Alex Graham (3-34) from Mercia's Oliver Bailey (3-37) and Ambleside's Rowan Ashworth (3-44). The first girl home was Pudsey and Bramley's Annie Wilkinson (4-38) who was well clear of Ambleside's Seren Green (5-13) and Keighley and Craven's Betsy Willis (5-13).

This year 68 intrepid seniors lined up on the start line to brave this short and very technical fell race up near vertical fell and over rocks and boulders on to the top of Yew Pike. For the ascent, it is not necessarily running speed that governs who is first to the top but sheer thigh power and lung strength.

Runners are then treated to a short recovery section on relatively flat moor land before commencing the steep, adrenaline fuelled, scree descent.

Mercia's Simon Bailey (13-58) won the race and was almost a minute clear of Barlick Fell Runners' Jimmy Craig (14-40) while Keswick's Chris Edis (15-08) was third. First lady off the scree and home was Wharfedale's Kirsty Hall (18-07), beating Helm Hill's Katherine Lawson (19-46) and Pudsey and Bramley's Rachel Pilling (20-08)

L Women athletes from South Lakeland performed well in the European Mountain Running Trial at Whinlatter and are likely to be selected to run at Lake Garda in Italy later this year. Howgill's Heidi Dent (37-57) was second behind Team Bath's Rebecca Hilland (37-00) while Kendal's Sarah Tunstall (38-42) and Ambleside's Annie Conway (38-51) was fourth.

L Keswick's Carl Bell set a new record of 2-06-55 in comfortably winning Sunday's Helvellyn and the Dodds Race.

He was nearly nine minutes clear of Dufton's Morgan Donnelly (2-15-38,) who in turn was well ahead of Chris Roberts (2-22-01) of York Knavesmire Harriers. Ambleside's George Foster (2-25-18) was fourth with team mate Garry Greenhow (2-26-51) in fifth.

The first lady was Carnethy's Helen Bonsor (2-40-04) who was 26th overall with Emma Gould (2-42-59), of Mercia, second.