Last updated at 16:58, Thursday, 15 November 2012

A BUMPER field of 244 runners – including hordes from South Cumbria – splashed their way around the popular Dunnerdale Fell Race.

Host club Black Combe Runners were strongly represented, with 31 members completing the five-mile course, which starts and finishes at Broughton Mills.

Having finished fourth last year, Carl Bell, of Howgill Harriers, went three places better to claim top honours. Bell’s winning time of 41:48 was almost one-and-a-half minutes slower than his clocking in 2011, which was unsurprising given the boggy underfoot conditions.

Danny Hope, of Pudsey and Bramley AC, finished second for the third year in a row. Hope clocked a time of 42:25 to cross the line 17 seconds ahead of third-placed Tom Gibbs, of Ambleside, who was also first veteran.

There was a home winner in the ladies’ race as Anna Lupton, of Black Combe Runners, beat Ambleside duo Jayne Reedy and Hazel Robinson.

Lupton finished in 27th place overall, skipping over the summits of The Knott, Raven Crag, Stickle Pike and Great Stickle in a time of 47:09.

Ambleside won both the men’s and ladies’ team prizes.

Race organiser Andrew Gittins, of Broughton-in-Furness, said: “There were no records as the going was very, very wet underfoot but everyone got back safely to welcome cups of tea and pies.

“Black Combe Runners had a really strong turnout, showing how the club has gone from strength to strength in recent years.

“In a year epitomised by team-working spirit, many volunteer helpers came together to make Saturday’s race happen. I thank all those who helped and the local residents and landowners, who kindly allow us to put the race on.”

The race was also the penultimate counter in the 2012 Black Combe Runners’ club fell championship.

Mike McIver, who was first from the club to finish at Dunnerdale in 20th place overall, remains the hot favourite to take the title going into the final race at Kirkbymoor on Saturday, November 24.

The club’s 2012 road race champions are James Goffe and Helen Gee.

Finishers from Black Combe Runners at Dunnerdale: 20 Mike McIver 46:15; 27 Anna Lupton 47:09; 28 William Rigg 47:18; 31 Carl Edmonds 47:38; 35 Michael Jones 48:13; 44 Mike Vogler 49:22; 53 Simon Rodger 50:32; 58 Pete Tayler 51:05; 61 Mike Jewell 51:22; 64 Elizabeth Adams 52:14; 70 Jamie Baron 52:59; 73 Angus Dobson 53:14; 100 Jackie Casey 56:22; 107 John Parminter 57:33; 125 James Goffe 59:07; 141 Nick Sebley 60:05; 152 David Parminter 61:30; 154 Pat McIver 61:33; 162 Amanda Seago 63:11; 165 Rob Sanders 63:24; 169 Richard Beard 64:08; 191 Philip Newton 66:36; 199 Val Gill 67:33; 202 Andrew Gittins 67:57; 206 Vinnie Allonby 68:36; 226 Rebecca Thorpe 74:38; 229 Viv Riley 75:11; 230 Sue Lomas 76:07; 231 Karl Fursey 76:53; 237 David Hobbins 80:48; 243 Keith Nixon 89:38.

* Barrow and Furness Striders athlete Peter Huck finished 75th when he raced against many of the world’s best cross country runners in Spain. The 22-year-old, from Ulverston, was representing England at the prestigious Burgos International event. The race was won by 2011 world cross country champion Imane Merga, from Ethiopia.

First published at 16:26, Thursday, 15 November 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk