Leven Valley AC were celebrating a double victory at the Hoad Hill Harriers fell race on July 4, after Will McNally and Jessica Bailey won the two junior races that took place.

The junior races started off the event, ahead of the seniors, with 28 young runners taking part in a flash of club vests from Hoad Hill Juniors, Ambleside, Leven Valley & Furness Fell Runners.

A quick start saw runners head along Ford Park to the first climb of the course and steepest section that soon strung out the field.

In the boys race, under-12 runner McNally took an early lead as the course levelled out, heading over the back of the Hoad before turning runners back up-to the Monument and a descent to the last straight before the finish.

McNally continued to kick hard as he took victory in seven minutes, 14 seconds, with home runner Leven Sopwith-Nicholson the second-fastest boy, as he followed 32 seconds later.

Leven’s girls were dominant, with Bailey being the second-fastest overall and the first girl over the line, as she clocked 7:42, four seconds ahead of clubmate Georgia Bell.

Making up the top five in the boys were Ambleside’s Blake Flemming (8:09), Howgill Harriers’ Callus Pennington (8:10) and Hoad Hill Harriers’ Max Hazlehurst (8:45).

The third girl crossed the line over a minute behind Bell, as Marina Bailey clocked 9:01, ahead of two more Leven Valley runners in Lucy Bell (9:20) and Sophie Leadbetter (9:30).

McNally and Bailey’s victories added to teammate Olesia Winder, a junior herself, winning the senior race later in the day.