Last updated at 22:38, Wednesday, 08 August 2012

THE Brownlee brothers, Alistair and Jonny, were always destined for great things, and in an Evening Mail column two years ago I predicted both would medal in London, writes LEE PROCTER.

TRICKY TERRAIN: Red Screes, in the Lake District, where Alistair Brownlee once took a tumble competing for Bingley

How could I be so sure? Because both lads have the mental strength of hardy fell runners!

Alistair and Jonny were brought up on a diet of running up and down fells and mountains.

Even now, when worldwide triathlon commitments allow, the brothers can be seen toeing fell race start lines in their blue and white Bingley Athletics Club vests.

In October 2009, the pair teamed up to run the first leg of the Ian Hodgson Mountain Relay, deep in the Lake District.

As expected, the young speed demons earned their Bingley team a commanding lead... until, that is, Brownlee the elder took an untimely tumble on the descent of Red Screes, high above Kirkstone Pass.

He returned to the changeover point dripping in blood. One wonders what the big-wigs at British Triathlon made of it all!

Both were back in their Bingley vests a few weeks later for the British Fell Running Relay Championships, again held in the Lake District.

Alistair ran the final solo leg, but, in thick mist, missed the first checkpoint. His team were disqualified.

Shame that. Especially considering I too was running that final leg for my club, Helm Hill.

I successfully found (stumbled upon) the troublesome checkpoint and thus recorded a finishing time.

Scalp claimed! And proof, if ever it was needed, that sometimes, just sometimes, the tortoise does in fact beat the hare!

First published at 16:15, Wednesday, 08 August 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk