IT was a case of what you know, rather than who you know that was crucial at this year’s Burnsall Fell race.

This short, sharp, lung-buster of a race runs over approximately 1.5 miles and 800ft of ascent.

It starts as it means to go on as the start line is at the bottom of a not too insignificant first climb.

Once through the first field gate all runners are treated to a relatively flat run, by comparison, over more fields and across a minor road.

Runners must then negotiate the first bog, pass the under-9 and under-12 turns before crossing the wall. The wall marks the under-14 turn and is reached across yet another boggy area. Once over the wall, the senior and under-17 runners have now reached the fell proper. Once on the fell, the route is flagged past two cairns to the summit. The first cairn marks the under-17 turn but senior runners must continue to the second cairn and their turn point. From here it is what you know that counts. Runners can take any route they choose back to the finish line.

However, given the heather coated and rocky nature of the fell, this task is more easily said than done. From the start field, spectators can see what appears to be a best line through the heather but, in reality, it is a deep, rutted path that is difficult and time consuming to negotiate safely. Legend tells of “best lines” through the heather and rocks but few actually know where they are.

Undeterred by the tricky nature of the race, 72 senior racers and 119 eager junior runners lined up in the sunshine to test their skill and stamina over this challenging course.

This year’s senior winner, Jimmy Craig of Barlick Fell Runners, demonstrated the importance of valuable insider knowledge as he chose the best line across the fell to finish in 14min 44sec.

He was closely followed on his line from the summit by the second and third men; Keswick AC’s Carl Bell (14.50) and Wharfedale Harriers’ Jonny Bradshaw (15.41). No other runners chose this line, preferring instead to take more vertical routes down the fell.

1st lady was Keswick’s Jenn Mattinson (20.39). Second and third ladies were Wharfedale’s Jean Powell (20.55) and Trawden AC’s Fionnuala Swan (21.07) The under-17 race is slightly shorter than the senior race but retains the interesting ingredient of being flagged only as far as the summit. So these older juniors have the added thrill of finding their own way back to the finish line.

Wharfedale’s Thomas Nelson was 1st back (11.21) with Broughton runners Joe Edmondson second (11.43) and Helm Hill’s Jacob Aubrey third. in 12.25). First girl was Bingley Harriers’ Eliza Findlay (15.18) followed by Helm Hill’s Georgia Stevens (15.49) and Bingley’s Lucy Miller was third in 16.23.

The under-14 race was won by Keighley and Craven’s Joe Hudson (7.16). The second and third boys were Broughton Runners’ Ben Edmondson (7.25) and Joe’s brother Louis (7.37). 1st girl was Clayton-le-Moors Briony Holt (8.23). 2nd and 3rd girls were Rossendale Harriers’ Lauryn Gregg (8.36) and Wharfedale’s Emily Jones (8.41).

The under-12 race winner was Kendal’s Fraser Sproul (5.23), marking his eighth win in eight races. The second and third boys were Wharfedale’s Sam Smith (5.31) and Clayton-le-Moors Jackson McKay (5.41).

The first girl was Wharfedale’s Alice Jones (6.06) who was followed home by Hoad hill’s Olesia Winder (6.17) and Wharfedale team mate Charlotte Barrett (6.25).

The under-nine race was won by Broughton Runners’ Alex Graham (2.58). The second and third girls were Keighley and Craven’s James Sadler-Townsend (2.58) and Trawden’s William Rowlands-Whiteoak (3.04).

The first girl was Hoad Hill’s Bethan Saunders (3.07) with Wharfedale’s Helena Roberts (3.09) second and Broughton’s Jessica Edmondson third in 3.18.