SOUTH Lakes athletes performed admirably in the opening Mid Lancs cross country fixture of the season hosted by Hoad Hill Harriers in the grounds of GSK Sports in Ulverston.

Around 750 runners, representing clubs from Cumbria and Lancashire, and groups from under 11 to senior runners, competed over a range of distances, from 1.5 to six miles.

In the opening race of the day - the U11 girls' race - Kendal's Anna Cobley (9-05) finished in a commendable fifth place in an event that was won by Keswick's Zoe Brannon (8-45). Hoad Hill’s Ethan Harvey (8-17) was sixth in the U11 boys' race won by Blackburn's Samuel Aspey (7-34).

Leven Valley's Georgia Bell (9-42) led home Kendal's Sophie Cowin (9-53) to win the girls' U13 race and her team mate Will McNally (9-55) was third in the U13 boys' race which was won by Southport Waterloo's Monty Barr (9-47).

And Leven Valley athletes placed first and second in the U15 girls' race with Jessica Bailey (10-03) and Olesia Winder (10-16) turning in excellent performances. Kendal's James Bowen (15-22) and his team mate Thomas Brailsford (15-37) were second and third in the U15 boys' race which was won by Blackpool's Luke Rawcliffe (15-09).

Kendal's Lilian Lewis (17-49) was third in the U17 girls' race just 18 seconds adrift of Lancaster & Morecambe's Phoebe Hayashi who won in 17-31. In the U17 mens' race Leven Valley's Sam McSherry (23-27) was second behind Chorley's Jack Hughes (22-52).

The senior ladies’ race had a large entry of 179, with 29 teams participating. Kendal's Rosie Woodhams (27-40) was the highest placed local finisher in sixth with Sedbergh School's Ellie Mather (29-11) in 11th and Kendal's Sally Ford (29-23) in 12th.

The men’s race saw a tight group of four running as a pack for most of the race with Blackpool's Luke Minns (31-33) emerging as the winner from Salford's Marc Brown (31-37). Hoad Hill's Matthew Elkington (32-28) was fourth with his team mate Andrew Dorrian (34-56) coming home 15th.