FELL runner George Ehrhardt is 'a prodigious talent who could be become the best in the country when he gets serious', according to his Todmorden Harrier team mate Keith Parkinson.

A recent purple patch had given George three victories in four races before the Boulsworth Hill Fell Race on Saturday, where he got the chance to measure his progress against the current English and British Champion Ian Holmes.

The 24-year-old has only just returned to fitness after a knee injury, which needed two operations, cost him five years of his career.

Todmorden Harriers were his first club. He first ran with them in 1989 after winning a race at junior school, but didn't start to train properly until 1992.

Coached by Eileen and Vincent Miles, by the following year he had won his first international vest, representing England Under 16s in the Home International at Grasmere.

In 1995 he ran for his country again in the World Trophy at Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh finishing 21st in the Under 20 race, and that year he was fourth in the British Championship and second in the English Championship.

His last international call up came in 1996 at Knockdhu in Northern Ireland, but by then he was suffering with his injury and his running stopped altogether until 2000.

With last season lost to foot and mouth only now is he re-establishing himself on the circuit.

During his absence he took a physics degree and he is now taking a PHD in theoretical physics at Manchester where he runs cross country for the university team.

He lined up at Boulsworth full of confidence after wins in the Coley Canter Trail Race and the Giant's Tooth and Ovenden Fell Races, but he hadn't immediately noticed Holmes in the field as a large group tracked Clayton's Sean Livesey in the early stages.

Sean led through the first mile but then suffered a fall and slipped back.

Holmes took over on the main climb which was made more difficult by the tussocky grass and a strong head wind.

George stayed close until the descent when Holmes, the master of downhill running, opened a gap which grew to a minute by the finish.

A minute further back Livesey recovered from his mishap to take third, while his Clayton colleagues Andy Orr and Andy Black also secured top ten finishes.

Graham Schofield, now of Horwich but once a Blackburn Harrier, was second veteran and 11th overall and Ian Greenwood was the third veteran finisher for Clayton Harriers.

Rossendale Harrier Ken Taylor won the M50s and Jean Rawlinson, running in her FRA colours, was first F45.

With his knee still recovering, George is only training four times a week and he feels that he would have to run twice a day to challenge for the major championships. Nevertheless he is planning to run in the English Championship events which start with the Half Tour of Pendle on March 9.

RESULTS

Men: 1 Ian Holmes (Bingley) 48:52, 2 George Ehrhardt (Todmorden) 49:56, 3 Sean Livesey (Clayton) 50:44, 9 Andy Orr (Clayton) 53:55, 10 Andy Black (Clayton) 53:58, 11 (2nd veteran) Graham Schofield (Horwich) 54:03, 13 (3rd veteran) Ian Greenwood (Clayton) 54:22, 17 Martin Tower (Rossendale), 20 Wayne Buckley (Rossendale) 56:12, 22 (M40) Thornton Taylor (Rossendale) 56:39, 26 (1st M50) Ken Taylor (Rossendale) 57:06, 27 Mark Harris (Todmorden) 57:13

Women: 1 Helen Johnson (Bingley) 60:01, 1st F45 Jean Rawlinson (Northern Vets)