IT took a sprint finish after almost nine miles of tough running to decide the winner in the Coniston Horseshore Fell Race.

Helm Hill Runners’ Tom Addison had that little extra energy in his legs after 8.7miles and 3,494ft of climbing to pip Rossendale AC’s Sam Tosh by a five seconds.

Addison clocked 68:13 and Tosh 68:18, with Josh Jardine third – and first under-23s finisher – in 72:19. Ambleside AC’s John Helme was fourth with a time of 74:22.

In the ladies race, Ambleside’s Lou Roberts dominated with a 85:47 clocking, more three minutes clear of Ribble Valley AC’s Caitlin Rice (89:02). Black Combe Runners sent a 13-strong contingent, with first back, in a speedy 82:46, Tim Ripper, just keeping new member Josh Hartley (82:47) at bay by the narrowest of margins.

Simon Rodger (88:03), Peter Tayler (96:22) and Nick Sebley (99:35) also clocked good times.

Phil Clayton was pleased with his 1:41.54, and less than two minutes later Julian Donnelly arrived for 1:43.42. Gareth Brown was just 16 seconds in arrears, and Martin Currie clocked 1:46.32.

Simon Austin arrived 20 seconds later, while Mike Jewell recorded 1:47.31. Patrick McIver finished in 1:51.07 and Susan Ross was the sole female taking part for the club, safely back in 2:03.45.

On the same day, three Black Combe members tackled the 63rd annual Yorkshire Three Peaks Fell Race, covering 23.2 miles and 5,276ft of ascent.

In ideal conditions at Horton-in-Ribblesdale, Murray Strain (Hunter’s Bog Trotters) won in a fantastic 2:49.38, narrowly missing the course record. The ladies race was won by England international Victoria Wilkinson, smashing the ladies record by more than minutes to clock 3:09.19.

For Black Combe, John Millen was first back in 3:53.28, with Matthew Rooke less than 10 minutes adrift (4:02.49). Club captain Rebecca Rooke had a storming run, finishing just 33 seconds behind her husband.

The extended 42.75-mile Keswick to Barrow Walk saw BCR’s Karl Fursey home in 10:18.59 – though he did stop off in Dalton to take part in a Clubbercise dance aerobic workout class before completing the final three after it.

Black Combe’s James Harris took part in the Arrant Haw Fell Race from Sedbergh and finished 25th overall in a race won by Tim Cowin, of Helm Hill.

At the Lord’s Seat Fell Race from Whinlatter, Nick Sebley was the sole BCR, clocking a 42:04 for 4.9 miles. Mark Lamb (Keswick AC) and Sarah McCormack (Ambleside AC) won in 31:52 and 34:29 respectively.

At the Anniversary Waltz Fell Race, from Newlands Valley, near Keswick, Sebley finished the 11.5 mile horseshoe, taking in Robinson, Hindscarth, Dalehead and Maiden Moor, in 2:17.26, with Richard Watson not far behind in 2:23.55.

Victory went to Chris Arthur (Bowland Fell Runners) and Heidi Dent (Howgill Harriers) in 1:32.52 and 1:56.01 respectively.

The tough Teenager with Altitude race, covering 15.3 miles and 7,546ft of ascent, saw Harvey Lord finish ninth overall in 3:09.21, with James Harris clocking 3:20.05. Carl Bell (Keswick AC) and Jill Stephen (Hunter’s Bog Trotters) won in 2:37.08 and 3:16.02 respectively, both new course records.

Black Combe’s club’s next counter road races are the Dalton 10k on Friday, May 19, and the Brathay Windermere maratho two days later.

The Long Duddon Fell Race, on Saturday, June 3, is the next counter fell race.