YOUNG athletes got an opportunity to take a tilt at more experienced fell runners when senior and junior competitors got the opportunity to race together in the second Sedbergh School organised Three Peaks Race, writes Mike Addison.

A large field of 176 runners - most of them from Sedbergh School - gathered above Lockbank Farm at the base of the Howgill fells on Tuesday afternoon for a race that takes in the summits of Winder, Arant Haw and Crook.

Ambleside AC's Simon Stainer emerged as the winner as he fought off the stiff challenge posed by Alastair Dunn, who led Helm Hill to the team prize. Stainer managed to shake off his pursuer on the long climb up Arant Haw and ran the circular route in a time of 30-32 with Dunn clocking 31-07.

But one youngster who really caught the eye was Dallam School pupil Scott Thwaites, who finished third in 32-25 after overtaking his Helm Hill team-mate Jos Addison (32-53) crossing the river at the bottom of Crook.

Kirkby Stephen's Peter Brittleton (33-19) was fifth with Helm Hill's Tom Doyle (34-01), of Ulverston, who was injured earlier in the year, showing a return to form by finishing sixth in front of Ambleside's Dan Duxbury (34-26).

Thirteen-year-old Kirkbie Kendal School pupil Rory Addison (34-44) also turned in a good performance to finish ninth ahead of another under 15 runner, S Fischer (35-01).

First female back was Sedbergh schoolgirl and Helm Hill runner Brooke Van Hinsbergh, who was 49th overall in 40-56 with Dallam's Robin Goodfellow (41-53) in second and 54th position.

n HELM Hill's Tom Addison notched up his second Kendal Winter League victory of the season over a new course that was well received by runners taking part.

The tour of Fell End - on the road between Sedbergh and Kirkby Stephen - included some testing climbs and good runnable sections and was set in a stunning location.

Addison, who is sponsored by Pete Bland Sports, had run shoulder-to-shoulder with his cousin, Mark, until the final long climb when he upped gear and slowly edged away from his Helm Hill team mate. Dark Peak's Mike Robinson was third and was chased hard by Kendal's Rick Stuart, who was first V40.

Dallam's Hazel Robinson was the first lady home ahead of Borrowdale's Nicola Davies and Wharfedale's Judy Howells.

Rossendale's Ashley Kay won his fourth U17 race of the series and closed the gap on Dallam's Alex Till in the championship. Keighley and Craven's Tom Sessford was second with Wharfedale's Jonathan Bradshaw third. Helm Hill's Melanie Hyder was a comfortable winner of the U17 girls race with Preston's Nicola Jackson some two minutes behind.

Helm Hill's James Knox turned in another excellent performance to beat championship leader Rory Addison by eight seconds and really put the pressure on for the overall title with just two scoring races remaining.

Dallam's Robin Goodfellow registered her ninth successive victory in the U14 girls' race with Helm Hill's Lauren Munro-Bennett ten seconds adrift in second.

Once again the U12 boys race was a fiercely contested affair with Wharfedale's Ben Johnstone winning his sixth race in a row ahead of Bingley's James Hall, who was the winner of the first three races of the series. Helm Hill's James Goad put in a gutsy show to come third.

Meanwhile, Megan Stuart ran strongly to win the U12 girls race with Broughton's Katie Wright and Helm Hill's Lauren Appleyard embroiled in a battle for second and third behind her.