AMBLESIDE'S Matthew Elkington led home a quality field of 201 runners in Saturday's Dunnerdale fell race from Broughton Mills.

He won the "classic" five mile race round the small but rugged fells between the Lickle and Duddon valleys in 40-10, 16 seconds ahead of Matlock's Daniel Haworth.

Helm Hill's Joshua Jardine and Keswick's Carl Bell, current British and English champion, were the early pace setters. They led the field out along the lane to the fell but were overhauled by the Helm Hill pairing of Rob Jebb and Tom Addison on the climb up The Knott.

Addison forged ahead on Raven's Crag but was unable to find the extra gear to propel him ahead of the chasing pack and relinquished his lead to Elkington at Stickle Pike. Haworth and Bell (40-29) also managed to get past Addison (40-40) in the wooded section before the final sprint down the lane to Broughton Mills.

Jebb (41-44) had to settle for seventh place but was first MV40 behind Lloyd Taggart (41-32), of Manx Harriers, who was first MV50. Helm Hill's Kieran Hodgson was second MV40 in 44-07

Helm Hill's Kelli Roberts (46-36) won the ladies' race and was more than two minutes ahead of her team mate Sharon Taylor (48-49). Holmfirth's Helen Berry (50-14) was third lady and first FV40 ahead of Mercia's Mel Price (50-29).

The Allithwaite 8-mile trail race on Saturday was won by junior Leven Valley athlete Sam McSherry (53-52) who led home his MV40 team mate Michael Gregory (54-35) and the unattached Harvey Lord (55-03). Holcombe's Paul Targett (58-50) was first MV50 ahead of Helm Hill's Rick Stuart (1-00-38) who was first MV55 in seventh position.

The first woman back was Lonsdale's Ellie Mather (1-07-58) in 18th place in front of Helm Hill's Ali Richards (1-09-32) who was first FV40 and chased over the line by Black Combe's Cheryl King (1-09-59) who was first FV45. There was a field of 80 runners.