RECORDS are there to be broken, and fell runner Matthew Elkington did just that at the Rusland Show.

The Dark Peak runner streaked away with victory in the senior fell race at the annual gala in the South Lakes.

He came home after 4.85 miles and 1,015ft of ascent in a time of 30 minutes 52 seconds – exactly a minute quicker than his nearest competitor, Ambleside's Ben Abdelnoor – to set a new best mark for the course.

Ambleside runners made up five of the top 10, with Abdelnoor followed across the line by club-mates Joe Mann (32.35) and John Helme (33.14) in third and fourth places respectively.

There was a good run from Black Combe's Harvey Lord, who finished seventh in 34.17, but it was his club-mate Alice Forster who shone for the Millom club, taking the prize in the women's event in 38.51. That was 40 seconds clear of Helm Hill's Jennifer Hutchinson, with another Black Combe Runner, Rebecca Rooke (40.12) in fourth.

Elkington doubled up with success in the shorter 1.75-mile race, finishing in 12.39, more than a minute ahead of his nearest rival. He also took second in the 800m and 1,600m grass track races,

Mann (13.52) was second in the short fell run, ahead of team-mate Michael Tosh (14.13), with Black Combe's Matthew Rooke fourth in 14.53 after 560ft of climbing. Ambleside's Katie Wright took the women's prize.

Settle's Thomas Marshall was the under-17s race winner, clocking 8.31 for the 1.1.25-mile, 295ft ascent course,

The two other junior races were claimed by Ambleside runners, with Daniel Sanderson taking the under-15s crown and James Bowen the under-13s title.

Millom's Emily Swarbrick, running for Cumberland Fell Runners, was first home in the girls under-15s race, finishing fourth overall in 6.50.

That success added to her wins on the grass track across four distances, in the 90m, 200m, 400m and 800m.

RESULTS

Senior Fell Race: 1. Matthew Elkington (Dark Peak), 30.52; 2. Ben Abdelnoor (Ambleside), 31.52; 3. Joe Mann (Ambleside), 32.35; 4. John Helme (Ambleside), 33.14; 5. Gareth Booth (Horwich, MV40), 33.40; 6. Michael Tosh (Ambleside), 33.50; 7. Harvey Lord (Black Combe), 34.17; 8. Craig Roberts (Kendal, MV50), 34.53; 9. Calvin Routledge (Ambleside, MV40), 36.24; 10. Michael Dugdale (Helm Hill), 37.16.

Ladies Race: 1. Alice Forster (Black Combe), 38.51; 2. Jennifer Hutchinson (Helm Hill), 39.31; 3. Katie Wright (Ambleside), 39.53; 4. Rebecca Rooke (Black Combe); 40.12; 5. Sarah Pike (unattached, FV40), 40.40.

Short Senior Race: 1. Matthew Elkington (Dark Peak), 12.39; 2. Joe Mann (Ambleside), 13.52; 3. Michael Tosh (Ambleside), 14.13; 4. Matthew Rooke (Black Combe), 14.43; 5. Paul Tynan (Lonsdale, MV50), 15.22. First Lady: Katie Wright (Ambleside), 17.21.

Under-17s Fell Race: 1. Thomas Marshall (Settle), 8.31; 2. Finlay Johnson (SROC), 9.22; 3. Mia Easthope (CFR, first female), 9.42.

Under-15s Fell Race: 1. Daniel Sanderson (Ambleside), 5.58; 2. James Thornley (Ambleside), 6.21; 3. Harvey Cooper (Leven Valley), 6.23; 4. Emily Swarbrick (CFR, first girl), 6.50.

Under-13s Fell Race: 1. James Bowen (Ambleside), 5.16; 2. Harry Bowen (Ambleside), 5.26; 3. Benjamin Greenup (Settle), 5.53. Girls: 1. Fayth Bowness (CFR), 6.36; 2. Olivia Swarbrick (CFR), 6.57; 3. Bethany Swarbrick (CFR), 9.01.