BLACKBURN Harrier teenager Beckie Taylor triumphed in her first lakeland fell race as a senior by winning the prestigious Anniversary Waltz near Keswick on Saturday.

The 18-year-old has never ran for more than one hour in a fell race before, so had no expectations at the challenging 11.5-mile Waltz, which includes 3,600 feet of climb.

Taylor was alongside the leading group of ladies but did not realise until a marshal told her, so decided to push on for a victory, which she did in a very creditable time of two hours, nine minutes and six seconds.

Clayton’s Dave Nuttall was our leading local male at the Cumbrian event, finishing 17th overall in 1:53:19.

n Blackburn Road Runner Phil White has returned to Lancashire after completing the gruelling six-day Marathon Des Sables across the Sahara Desert.

The 59-year-old travelled an incredible 151 miles in 64 hours, two minutes and seven seconds.