ROSS Campbell underlined his credentials as one of South Cumbria’s top middle distance runners with victory in the Hoad Hill Summer 10k.

Campbell – a former Dalton Charter 10k champion – kept a big and strong field at bay to triumph in a time of 33 minutes and 33 seconds.

The Barrow And Furness Striders ace from Askam crossed the line at Glaxo Sports Club ten seconds faster than he did last year when he had to settle for fourth place.

He made up for that disappointment last night though, as he flew through the streets of South Ulverston and out to Conishead Priory and back to the sports club in quick time.

It was a Striders one-two as Campbell held off the challenge of his club-mate Jed Bartlett, who finished 27 seconds behind in second place.

The pleasant warm and breezy conditions attracted a bumper entry to the annual race with 196 runners of varying ages and abilities testing themselves on what is a flat and scenic course.

A pair of North Cumbrian fliers in Keswick AC’s veteran 40 age group runner Russell Maddams (34:03) and Mark Benson of Tri Lakeland (34:09) claimed third and fourth spots in a closely-fought battle ahead of former winner Dave Fulford of host club Hoad Hill Harriers who was fifth in 34:39.

Ryan Everett of Walney Wind Cheetahs earned a top-ten spot in 35:55, while a handful of other familiar names on the local running circuit achieved top-20 places.

Mark Tomkinson, a veteran 45 age class runner representing the host club, completed the course in an excellent 37:02 to secure 14th position.

Striders veteran 40 category runner George McKinley was next home in 37:17 and Ulverston Tri Club’s Great Britain Age Group triathlete Duncan Eley finished 18th in 37:46.

Former Keswick to Barrow podium finisher Dave Edwards, of Walney Wind Cheetahs, clocked 37:49, securing 19th place for the V45 category runner.

Vicky Johnston was the first woman home in an impressive time of 41:33 with Sharon Dixon next in 42:08 – securing another podium place for the Hoad Hill Harriers athlete.

The main event was preceded by a children’s one-mile fun run which saw 65 talented youngsters battling it out on the Glaxo Sports Club course.

The race was dominated by the Corbishley brothers of host club Hoad Hill Harriers, with James winning in five minutes, 36 seconds and Justin coming second in 6:05.

See next Thursday’s Junior Sport pull-out for more on the one-mile fun run.

HOAD HILL SUMMER 10k TOP 30 FINISHERS

1 Ross Campbell (Barrow & Furness Striders) 33:33; 2 Jed Bartlett (Barrow & Furness Striders) 34:00; 3 Russell Maddams (Keswick AC) 34:03; 4 Mark Benson (Tri Lakeland) 34:09; 5 David Fulford (Hoad Hill Harriers) 34:39; 6 Darren Potter (Midland Masters) 34:40; 7 Kieran Rowlands (Lancaster & Morecambe AC) 35:06; 8 Joe Kenny 35:53; 9 Ryan Everett (Walney Wind Cheetahs) 35:55; 10 Tom Hartley (Kendal AC) 36:22; 11 Stuart Ackerley (Ellenborough AC) 36:26; 12 Jonathan Purslow (Kendal AC) 36:29; 13 Nathan Gray (Ellenborough AC) 36:44; 14 Mark Tomkinson (Hoad Hill Harriers) 37:02; 15 George McKinley (Barrow & Furness Striders) 37:17; 16 Rob Grant 37:22; 17 Neil Gordon (Warwick Uni) 37:35; 18 Duncan Eley (Ulverston Tri Club) 37:46; 19 Dave Edwards (Walney Wind Cheetahs) 37:49; 20 Carl Fisher (Cumberland AC) 38:19; 21 Robert Askew (Helm Hill Runners) 38:24; 22 Matt Berry (Trafford AC) 38:27; 23 Stuart Garnett 38:33; 24 Ian Sadler (Barrow & Furness Striders) 38:36; 25 Will Nelson 38:44; 26 Philip Lee (Kendal AC) 38:59; 27 Matthew Hill (Parkside Panthers) 39:03; 28 Andy Jackson (Hoad Hill Harriers) 39:06; 29 James Baron (Helm Hill Runners) 39:10; 30 David Harker (Walney Wind Cheetahs) 39:21.