There was a magnificent turnout of more than 30 from East Lancashire when the English Junior Fell Championship Series got underway at Newlands in the Lake District.

The event was the Anniversary Wa!, the name given to the junior leg of the Anniversary Waltz Fell Race set up by Bowland members Steve and Wynn Cliff who were married at Newlands Valley Church in 1996.

There were two Bowland Fell Runners in the U8 race with Joe Sutcliffe sixth and Finlay Johnson 15th, but our locals really came to the fore in the U10s where Oliver Spencer from Pendle AC was first and Blackburn Harrier Jack Weiss claimed second as Rossendale's Eleanor Solomon came home second girl.

There is no Championship for the two youngest age groups, but there was all to play for in the U12s as Sally Searson from Blackburn placed fourth.

Emma Spencer from the Pendle club was prominent with third in the U14 girls' race and Blackburn Harrier Beckie Taylor more than matched her with second in the U16 race where Tash Stringfellow of Dale took fifth spot.

For the boys, Ashley Kay was another Rossendale success with sixth. Phil Bolton and Emma Flanagan were the pick of the U18s with Phil third boy and Emma second girl, and there was a strong showing from a third Rossendale Harrier, Grant Cunliffe, who was sixth boy.

The Championship visits our region on Sunday June 8 at the Harry Aspinall Stacksteads Fair which will also incorporate the Lancashire Junior Fell Championship.