The 2015 BOFRA Championship season commenced in style at this year’s Sedbergh Gala.

The sun shone as 69 senior runners and 80 juniors lined up for the race up Winder Fell.

In addition to sunshine, the weather provided a welcome breeze for runners as they battled the terrain and each other to the finish line.

Despite previous rain, the course was dry and firm allowing for some fast racing in all categories.

The senior race is a gruelling, lung-busting effort over three false summits to finally reach the trig point that marks the top of the fell and the turning point of the race.

The runners have a brief taste of relatively flat grassy running before bounding down the steep descent.

The race finishes where it starts, in the show field, giving rise to some impressive sprints to the finish line.

The first senior home this year was Keswick AC’s Carl Bell in 19.42min, two seconds faster than the 2014 winner in similar conditions. Second home was Jack Smith of Wharfedale Harriers (19.58) and third Helm Hill’s Alastair Dunn (21.07), repeating his position from 2014.

First lady home was Wharfedale’s Emma Hopkinson in 25.58, improving on her second place in 2014. Second lady was Helm Hill’s Hannah Russell in 26.08 and third place went to Wharfedale’s Lucy Needham in 26.58.

Under-17 boys results: 1 Thomas Nelson, Wharfedale Harriers 13.27; 2 Luke Bowen, Ambleside 14.14 mins; 3 Jake Wren, Helm Hill 14.43; Under-17 girls: 1 Katherine Lawson, Helm Hill 15.45; 2 Lucy Miller, Bingley Harriers 16.17; 3 Eliza Findlay, Bingley Harriers 16.26; Under-14 boys: Joe Hudson, Keighley & Craven 12.15; Sam Almond, Eden Runners 12.22; 3 Robert Askew, Helm Hill 12.43; Under-14 girls: Katie Thurlow, Helm Hill 13.50; 2 Lauryn Gregg, Rossendale Harriers 14.35; 3 Emily Jones, Wharfedale 14.59 mins; mixed under-nines and 12s: Fraser Sproul, Kendal 7.07 mins; 2 Sam Smith, Wharfedale 7.21; 3 Alex Thompson Wharfedale 7.27; girls mixed: 1 Alice Jones, Wharfedale 8.23; 2 Charlotte Barrett, Wharfedale 8.45; 3 Beth Roberts, Keighley & Craven 8.52.