HELM Hill runner Chris Richards started the English Junior Fell Running Championships with victory in the U14 race at Pendle.

Lauren Munro-Bennett took a strong third in the U18 race as Helm Hill put themselves into third position in Lancashire.

The duo were ably supported by great runs from Imogen Burrow in fourth and Jacob Aubrey in seventh in the U12s with Heidi Murray sixth and Mia Senior 13th in the U14s.

Elliot Wren was 18th and Joshua Roelants 30th in the U10 race.

South Lakes runners also dominated the adult race at Pendle, organised by Clayton le Moors Harrier.

Staveley’s Rob Jebb took the race honours as he rounded the course in 31.20, to finish 30 seconds clear of Pudsey and Bramley runner Rob Hope.

Helm Hill’s Mark Addison was third in 31.53, with cousin Tom Addison sixth in 32.47 l YOUNG North Craven runner Thomas Marshall bagged a podium finish in the North Yorkshire Schools Cross Country finals at Catterick.

The year five pupil at Richard Thornton’s Primary School, Burton-in-Lonsdale finished third in a tough field in the event contested by around 50 children.

Marshall, nine, runs for Settle Harriers and is continuing a family tradition - his granddad Tommy Sedgwick is a well-known former fell running champion.