Black Combe Runners were recently in action at the Arnside Knott fell and trail race over a scenic course that covered around six miles of the Arnside and Silverdale area of natural beauty.

There was a nip and tuck battle between Sam Harrison (Bowland Fell Runners) and Matthew Briggs (Northumberland Fell runners) for most of the race, but that’s the order it finished in, with Harrison clocking 39mins 05secs for the victory and Briggs just nine second behind.

The ladies race was won by Annie Conway of her new club Kendal AC in exactly 44 minutes, almost three ahead of Penistone Footpath Runners’ Julie Darigala, with Janie Oates (Helm Hill Runners) third in 47:08.

For the six BCRs taking part, some pleasing times were recorded for this non-club counter event, and Harvey Lord was the first ‘green & black’ back in a good 40:49.

Also running well were Matthew Rooke (43:45), Patrick McIver (49:25), John Shevelan (55:04), Chris Roberts (56:34) and Andrew Gittins (65:22).

BCR’s Julian Donnelly made the trip to Darwen, Lancashire, to take part in the David Staff Memorial fell race, which is a short, but challenging run on the moors above the town and visits Darwen tower at the summit.

Donnelly ran well in the poor weather conditions to clock 38:33 which saw Ben Fish of nearby Blackburn Harriers take the win in 26:50.