The 2018 BOFRA season got off to a fantastic start as Jack Cummings of Ilkley Harriers won the senior race at Sedbergh.

The race sets off from the manicured Lupton Fields and then winds its way over varyingly rough terrain, round and up to the summit trig point on Winder Fell, before the “brain off brake off” exhilarating “any route” descent back to the finish line.

This year, glorious weather in the previous weeks, and on the day, provided perfect conditions for this lung buster of a race.

Winning the race in 20.52 mins, Cummings had a clear lead over a pack of 44 hardy senior runners who had opted for this race over a plethora of other events taking place this weekend. The second man was Barlick Fell Runners’ Nick Treitl (22.13) with Lonsdale Fell Runners’ Phil Mather coming in third.

This year’s ladies’ winner was Helm Hill’s Alison Richards (29.22) followed by Howgill Harriers’ Chloe Brown (30.43) and third-placed Wharfedale Harriers Lynn Whittaker (31.24).

The U17 race, which turns part way up the fell, was a battle between 16 seasoned runners with the leader changing as the race progressed. In the end, Keighley and Craven’s Eric Beaumont won the in 16.00 mins.

Sedbergh local, Helm Hill’s Robert Askew was second boy (16.37) with club mate Ollie Sanders close behind in third place with a time of 16.45.

The girls’ race was won by Ilkley’s Bernadette Raven (20.12) who is going from strength to strength after a good cross-country season over the winter. The second girl was experienced runner, Rossendale Harriers’ Lauryn Gregg (20.14) who chased Raven all the way, followed by Howgill Harriers’ CJ Middleton (21.35).

Ambleside’s Charlie Allmond (11.19) won the unde-14 race followed by the Helm Hill duo of Ben Smith (11.55) and Alex Tallon, (12.26), who were second and third respectively.

Maintaining a theme of Helm Hill podium finishes, Sarah Smith won the girls’ race in 13.04 with Wharfedale’s Amelie Lane second in 13.56 and Clayton le Moors Ella Dorrignton taking third place in 14.05.

Ambleside’s Rowan Ashworth took the under-12 race victory in 7.46 with a clear lead over second-placed Cumberland FR runner Mylo Jewell (8.18) and third-place Dallam’s Jamie Waller (8.26).

More Helm Hill excellence came in the form of Elise Tallon who won the girls’ race in 8.44 by a whisker in a spectacular sprint finish from Leven Valley’s Bethan Saunders (8.44). Barlick’s Lucille Pickles came home in third place in 9.08.

The under-nine race might be the shortest of the series but the athletes are no less competitive as they jostle for position before the race has even begun.

Budding star of the fells, Helm Hill’s Joseff Tancrel stormed home to win the race n 5.21 from Jamie Dent (5.30) and Keighley and Craven’s Oscar Timbers (5.55).