MATT Elkington held off a chasing back of Black Combe Runners members to take victory for the host club in the Hoad Hill Fell Race.

Hoad Hill Harrier Elkington completed the course, which started in Ford Park, made its way up Hoad, past the Sir John Barrow Monument to the back of the hill and back again, in 9mins 41secs, followed just over a minute later by Black Combe's Edward Gleadowe (10:44).

Gleadowe's club-mate, Matthew Rooke, rounded out the podium places with an 11:09 clocking in the bright evening sunshine on the sun-scorched slopes.

Black Combe trio James Harris (11:21), Connor O’Hara (11:45) and Harvey Lord (11:51) were next home in quick succession, with Gavin Lloyd cracking the top 10 and being the first under-23s runner home with a time of 12:24 as well.

Junior runner Olesia Winder triumphed in the senior women's race as the Leven Valley under-14s ace completed the course in 12:36.

Black Combe's Sarah Pike was second with a clocking of 13:44, and Winder's club-mate Emma Broadbent took third in 15:44. Another Leven Valley member, Lucy Saunders, rounded out the women's field in 17:26.

The other BCR finishers in the men's race were William Ross (13:54), Nick Selby (13:58), Simon Austin (14:02), Mike Jewell (14:21), Jonathan Bailey (15:36), James Goffe (15:38) and Karl Fursey (19:34).

Of the Hoad Hill contingent, Lee Winter was second to Helm Hill's Paul Winter in the MV40 category with his clocking of 12:54, and Jeff Chadwick took MV45 honours in 13:04.

Luke Turner's time of 13:20 saw him finish second in the under-23s category, with Stephen Peters (13:50), Cian Nutt (14:12), Mike Jewell (14:21) and Alistair Macdonald (14:36) finishing too. Jewell's time saw him finish as the fastest MV60 runner as well.

There was a strong Leven Valley presence in the race, and Jacob Nelson led the way for them with a time of 12:32, which saw him crack the top 10. He was closely followed by Edward Sargent, in 12:38.

Dave Parker was the second-fastest in the M50 category with a 13:18 clocking, and David McNally's time of 13:38 saw him finish as third MV40 runner home.

Club-mates Adam Williamson (15:16), Tim Winder (15:22), Paul Corkhill (15:27) and Ronnie Haddow (15:34) all finished close to each other, while Ambleside AC's sole entrant, Al Bradley, crossed the line in 17:56.

RESULTS

Senior Men: 1. Matt Elkington (GHHH), 9.41; 2. Edward Gleadowe (BCR), 10.44; 3. Mathew Rooke (BCR), 11.09; 4. James Harris (BCR), 11.21; 5. Connor O’Hara (BCR, U18s), 11.45; 6. Harvey Lord (BCR), 11.51; 7. Paul Singleton (Helm Hill, MV40), 12.17; 8. Gavin Lloyd (BCR, U23s), 12.24; 9. Jacob Nelson (LV, U16s), 12.32; 10. Edward Sargent (LV, U14s), 12.38.

11. Lee Winter (GHHH, MV40), 12.54; 12. Jeff Chadwick (GHHH, MV45), 13.04; 13. Bobby Guard-Storry (UA), 13.08; 14. Alan Life (Clayton Le Moors, MV50), 13.13; 15. Dave Parker (LV, MV50), 13.18; 16. Luke Turner (GHHH, U23s), 13.20; 17. David McNally (LV, MV40), 13.38; 18. Stephen Peters (GHHH), 13.50; 19. William Ross (BCR, MV45), 13.54; 20.ick Selby (BCR, MV55), 13.58.

21. Simon Austin (BCR), 14.02; 22. Cian Nutt (GHHH), 14.12; 23. Mike Jewell (BCR, MV60), 14.21; 24. Alistair Macdonald (GHHH), 14.36; 25. Rikki Mayvers (UA), 14.46; 26. Adam Williamson (LV, U16s), 15.16; 27. Tim Winder (LV, MV55), 15.22; 28. Paul Corkhill (LV), 15.27; 29. Ronnie Haddow (LV, MV45), 15.34; 30. Jonathan Bailey (BCR, MV40), 15.36.

31. James Goffe (BCR, MV55), 15.38; 32. Andrew Johannessen (UA), 15.52; 33. Al Bradley (Ambleside, MV45), 17.56; 34. Frank McKeown (UA, MV45), 19.29; 35. Karl Fursey (BCR, MV45), 19.34; 36. Sean Robinson (UA, U23s), 20.09; 37. Nathan Lee (UA, U23s), 21.49; 38. Elliott Fletcher (UA, U23s), 26.18.

Senior Women: 1. Olesia Winder (LV, U14s), 12.36; 2.Sarah Pike (BCR, WV40), 13.44; 3. Emma Broadbent (LV), 15.44; 4. Lucy Saunders (LV), 17.26.

Key: GHHH – Glaxo Hoad Hill Harriers; BCR – Black Combe Runners; LV – Leven Valley; MV – Men's Veteran; WV – Women's Veteran.