A FORMER fell runner will return to the scene of one of his victories 75 years ago.

Bob Newbould, now in his 90s, won the classic fell race at Burnsall Feast Sports in 1939, just prior to the outbreak of the Second World War.

Now, Mr Newbould, from a well-known Hartlington farming family, has been invited to start this year's fell race, which will take place on Saturday at 4.30pm.

Back in 1939, the Craven Herald reported that Mr Newbould had benefited from the absence of PJ Campbell, the Salford international runner, who had won the race in 1936, 1937 and 1938. The favourite on the day was A D Mellor, a redoubtable Leeds athlete, who had been a former northern junior cross country champion, but he could only finish third.

Mr Newbould was described as a sturdy, relentless runner with a swinging stride who knew the course intimately. He won the race comfortably by half a minute from another Leeds runner, F Wildsmith.

The course record is 12 minutes 48 seconds, which was set by the well-known professional runner Fred Reeves in 1977 and equalled by JR Wilde in 1983. These are the only two men to better the time of EH Dalzell, the legendary Lakeland runner, who, in 1910, established his classic record of 12 minutes 59.8 seconds.

Saturday's feast sports will also include a ten mile road race at 2.30pm and the usual activities on the village green. All proceeds will go to village charities.