ALMOST 80 competitors took part in the second running over Allithwaite 8 trail race on Saturday.

The race, organised by Allithwaite Running Club, took entrants across eight miles of rough terrain as they climbed Hampsfell.

Showers early in the day gave way to sunny conditions as the runners left Allithwaite Community Centre heading for Birkby and then onto Cartmel Racecourse. From there, they headed up to Hampsfell summit via a flagged and marshalled route giving views across the southern lakes and out across Morecambe Bay. A steep descent off Fell End gave runners a speedy return to Allithwaite.

A strong turnout from Black Combe Runners as part of their championship races gave some stiff competition with Josh Hartley in first place with a time of 52:36 to hold off last year’s winner and team-mate Harvey Lord into 2nd place with 53:39. Will Sisson took 3rd men’s place for Kendal AC, in a ‘photo finish’ with Steven Brennan, with a time of 56:04.

Setting a scorching pace for the ladies was Black Combe’s Lizzie Browne in 3rd place overall and a time of 54:41. Emily Simpson took 2nd ladies in 1:04:55, with Darina Delinova (Glaxo Hoad Hill Harriers) in 3rd in 1:09:00.

Allithwaite Running Club is firmly establishing both itself and the event within the Cumbrian running community and further afield with entries from Durham, Lancashire and the midlands. Support by marshals from the club, the village and further afield was well-received by all the runners. The club wishes to offer very grateful thanks for all the comments about the friendly atmosphere, reflecting the club’s ethos of welcoming and supporting runners of all abilities and nurturing success. In addition, the club wishes to thank Steve Gelderd, Holker Estates, Longlands Hall and the farmers at Low Bank Side, Aynsome Croft, Longlands, Aynsome & High Fell Gate farms.