EIGHTY-FOUR of the 238 starters in Saturday's British and English championship counter at Wasdale retired or were timed out as the heat took its toll on athletes.

Organiser Richard Eastman said that there were a few complaints about the severity of the closing times at various checkpoints and a few runners ran on after being timed out and told to return to the finish.

"That contravenes FRA (Fell Running Association) rule eight and we are obliged to report them to the FRA," said Mr Eastman. "All that said, the race was once again a hard classic and even though the record was never in danger, there was determined efforts made and great self-sacrifice."

Borrowdale's Simon Booth covered the 21 miles and 9,000ft of climbing in 3-49-05, which is well outside Billy Bland's long-standing record of 3-25-21.

He was hotly pursued by Ambleside's Nick Sharp, who was just one minute and 34 seconds behind. Staveley's Rob Jebb placed fifth, while Ambleside's Jon Deegan had a good run to finish 12th.

Calder Valley's Sally Newman was first lady, coming home 35th in 4-51-41 with Carnethy's Jill Mykura (4-59-38) second and Staveley's Sharon Taylor third in 47th position.

Results: 1 S Booth, Borrowdale, 3-49-05; 2 N Sharp, Ambleside, 3-50-39; 3 J Lennox, Shettlestone, 3-53-35; 4 P Davies, Borrowdale, 4-06-01; 5 R Jebb, Bingley, 4-09-29; 12 J Deegan, Ambleside, 4-24-19; 24 D Golding, Ambleside, 4-41-21; 47 S Taylor, Bingley, 5-02-49; 70 A Miller, Kendal, 5-20-20; 103 R Gillespie, Eden, 5-45-25; 111 J Faulkner, Eden, 5-53-22. (There were 144 finishers).

n A RECORD entry of 99 runners took part in the five mile 20 Barrier Challenge Race from Carnforth High School.

Ulverston's Chris Doyle was beaten into second place by Salford's Eddie Simpson, who won by a comfortable margin of 47 seconds. First veteran was Horwich's Paul Muller who finished third.

Paula Holland of the host club Dallam won the ladies' race, finishing 39th in 42-02.

Race organiser Dave Shinn decided to use a new finish - reversing the start round the perimeter of the playing field as the old finish area tended to get clogged up with vehicles.

This made the course slightly longer and so the winning times are new records.

Results: 1 E Simpson, Salford, 32-23; 2 C Doyle, Trafford, 33-10; 3 P Muller, Horwich, 33-39; 4 R McMahon, Lancaster & Morecambe, 34-10; 5 P Dugdale, Kendal, 34-14; 6 C Breakwell, Lancaster & Morecambe, 34-32; 7 D Parkinson, Kendal, 35-20; 8 P Pollitt, CFR, 35-27; 9 C Speight, Ambleside, 35-54; 10 F Tominay, Lancaster & Morecambe, 36-22; 11 P Whiting, Kendal, 36-36; 12 D Crayston, Dallam, 36-38; 16 S Watson, Dallam, 37-45; 17 M McKenna, Dallam, 37-50; 24 D Griffin, Dallam, 38-54; 25 M Meadowcroft, Dallam, 39-13; 29 M Cronshaw, Kendal, 40-43; 34 M Walker, Kendal, 41-27;35 G Tagney, Dallam, 41-31; 37 N Garnett, Kendal, 41-50; 39 P Holland, Dallam, 42-02; 40 M Davey, Dallam, 42-02; 41 D White, Helm Hill, 42-47; 43 K Nicholls, Dallam, 43-15; 44 J Hodgson, Dallam, 43-22; 46 D Woodbridge, Ambleside, 43-41; 47 D Whitehead, Kendal, 43-55; 52 P Percival Smith, Kendal, 44-44; 54 P Crewe, Dallam, 45-14; 55 J Leech, Dallam, 45-18; 61 G Leedham, Dallam, 46-05; 63 D Deason, Dallam, 46-14; 70 M Pearcy, Dallam, 47-39; 71 B Nicholson, Kendal, 47-40; 73 S Hill, Kendal, 48-25; 86 H Deason, Dallam, 54-07; 89 J Pearcy, Dallam, 55-00; 95 J Ryan, Dallam, 60-24; 99 G Dowthwaite, Dallam, 60-41.

n ULVERSTON'S Chris Doyle lopped 24 seconds off the record for the 1.75 mile Flan Fell Race from his home town.

The race starts at the Gill in Ulverston and then proceeds up Gill Banks before the steep ascent of Flan fells then the descent back to the Gill.

Doyle, who runs for Trafford AC, turned at the top of the fell with Ian Bush, but his descending skills allowed him to win by nearly a minute and clock 10-09 with Bush coming home in 11-02.

Dallam's Melanie Hyder was the first female finishing 17th in 12-52, beating Ambleside's Vicky Wilkinson who was four places behind.

Broughton's Nathan Metcalfe won the junior race in 10-49 just three seconds ahead of team-mate Matthew Penellum. First girl was Broughton's Katie Wright.

Results: 1 C Doyle, Trafford, 10-09; 2 I Bush, 11-02; 3 J Chadwick, Hoad Hill, 11-21; 4 C Howie, Hoad Hill, 11-33; 5 S Dixon, Hoad Hill, 11-41; 6 A Crowe, Broughton 11-48.

n SEVERAL South Lakeland athletes made the trip to Scotland on Saturday to take part in the British Open Fell Running Championship race at Alva.

Helm Hill's Lewis Robinson won the U14 event and his team-mate Tom Addison took the honours in the U17 race finishing just two seconds outside the event record for this steep up-and-down course. First girl was Helm Hill's Katie Robinson.

In the senior race Settle's Ben Lonsdale was fourth and Helm Hill's Paul Tuson turned in an excellent performance to finish ninth and second V45. Helen Sedgwick was first lady in 17th.

The race was won by Stuart Whitlie beating Mark Croasdale by two seconds.

Results: Seniors: 1 S Whitlie, 20-56; 2 M Croasdale, 20-58; 3 A Wright, 21-11; 5 B Lonsdale, 22-14; 9 P Tuson, 25-25; 10 T Robinson, 25-41. Juniors: Under 17: 1 T Addison, 11-50; 2 M Hurst, 12-00; 3 D Shepherd, 12-31. Under 14: 1 L Robinson, 9-34; 2 M Fretwell, 9-51; 3 T Sessford, 10-00. Under 12: 1 R Croasdale, 10-40; 2 R Gathergood, 11-15; 3 C Bell, 11-38.