Emma Flanagan, Dawn Richards, Mark Horrocks and Jack Holt have won titles at the British Open Fell Runners Association Championships, and the sport looks to have unearthed a real diamond in Oliver Spencer.

The BOFRA Championship is a season-long series lasting from May to October and taking in 15 fixtures at shows and galas in the Dales, the Lake District and Scotland.

As each athlete is allowed to count their eight best results, it requires an enormous commitment, particularly for runners who are also taking part in the FRA English Championships.

Rossendale Harrier Flanagan, for example, has eschewed the track and field season, but has earned her reward with a second consecutive title in the Women's U17s, as well as reaching the fringe of the England team.

Last year there was only a point in it, but this summer she scored maximum points after winning all nine races entered to lead Amy Fretwell by 18.

Emma Thompson, who took third this year after second last, led home a trio of Pendle athletes, with Sarah Wilson fourth and Lois Grinstead fifth. Thompson and Wilson each won two rounds.

In the same age band, defending men's champion Jack Thompson was just fourth this season, but the Pendle man was still our highest finisher, although Joe Johnston of Rossendale took a fine ninth at the age of 14.

Emma Spencer of Pendle shaded Rossendale's Rebecca Swindells by a single point to take second in the girls' U14 class, despite Swindells winning three races to Spencer's two.

Nine of the other 10 victories were taken by Dallam's Melanie Hyder who succeeds Swindells as champion.

Meanwhile, the 2006 U12 title holder Faith Biddle, of Hyndburn, was fifth in her new age group.

Rebecca Flanagan was the winning U12 in consecutive races at Ambleside and Cracoe as she finished third over the season, with club mate Chloe Law in fifth spot.

The youngest age group is for U9s, although there is no championship at stake here. Nevertheless, the performances of Oliver Spencer, who led most of his nine races from start to finish, has signalled him as one to watch.

The distances the juniors are allowed to run is governed by the regulations, but although senior fell races can vary enormously, the BOFRA races tend to be short and sharp in character with most less than four miles.

It seems to suit Jack Holt though as he won the over 50 veteran title for the second year. The Clayton-le-Moors Harrier missed only one round and recorded 11 wins and three seconds.

Team-mate Ian Robinson was second with a win at the Kirkby Gala to his credit, and Andrew Biddle from West Pennine Runners was fourth, a one place improvement on 2006.

Mark Horrocks from Barnoldswick was another to score maximum points to secure the over 40 veteran class ahead of Clayton's Colin Urmston.

Horrocks was the outright race winner five times and missed out on the senior title by a single point.

Rossendale's Andrew Grenfell won the Hawkswick Dash on his way to third in the senior standings.

Pendle's Dawn Richards enjoyed a season-long tussle with Lynn Whittaker in the over 40 women's division before clinching the title with first place in the last round at Wasdale after they had started the race level.

It was the seventh time the pair has finished 1-2 and the fourth time Richards had come out on top. She was also second in the seniors behind Kate Rogan, the Wharfedale Harrier originally from Barnoldswick.

Richards' memorable season also includes a class win in the Pendle and Burnley Grand Prix.

l The BOFRA Presentation Dinner Dance is on Saturday November 10 at the Carleton Inn, Morecambe. Proceedings start at 7.30 pm. For tickets or accommodation call Pauline Scholes on 01535-631755.