LOTHERSDALE Fell Race must be among the oldest event of its kind in the county.

It was first recorded in 1847 and maintains the character of a vintage race with juniors and seniors running together over the short, sharp course.

The route takes in the delights of the steep incline from Devonshire House Farm to the eventual summit at Town Edge. The race then takes a different route down the fell, across Folly Bridge and back to the show field.

Records for the race are difficult to compare year on year as it is part of the Lothersdale Young Farmers Show, which has a moveable site according to the season’s weather.

However, running with seniors gives the juniors a chance to display their fell running prowess and affords the seniors that little bit of extra pressure to perform.

Regardless of who actually won the race this year, the real hero of the day was Silsden lad, Will Preston, who forfeited his position to help sisters Millie and Jessica Smith over the fence to the road, near the end of the race.

The girls were running in memory of their step father who loved the race. Still grinning, Will trotted in to the finish behind the girls.

The overall race winner was under-17 boy Logan Hargreaves-Madhas of Wharfedale Harriers in 12mion 10sec.

Second place went to another under-17, Euan Fraser of Trawden AC (12.34). The first senior home was Barlick’s Andy Berry (12.43) in third place.

The second and third senior men in sixth and seventh place overall were Craven Energy’s Pete Harrison (14.08) and Barlick’s Nicolas Kendall (14.15). The third under-17 boy was Lothersdale Young Farmer, Daniel Dobson (16.24).

The first female to cross the line, in fifth place overall, was under-14 girl Alice Jones, also of Wharfedale Harriers (13.31).

The second female was her sister Emily Jones, an under-17 girl, in 14.52. The third female was Trawden’s Fionnuala Swann (14.59).

Todmorden Harriers Helen Hodgkinson (19.18) was the second senior lady while second and third places in the under-17 girls race went to went to Lothersdale Young Farmers Molly Peek (29.29) and Ellie Leeming (29.32).

The first under-14 boy in fourth place overall, was Wharfedale’s Alexander Thompson (13.12) in front of unattached runner Sam Turland (15.06).

The first three under-12 were Wharfedale’s Laurie Powell (16.19), Calder Valley’s Ben Hodgkinson (17.49) and Laurie’s brother Lucca Powell (19.38).

The first three under-12 girls were all Ilkley Harriers, Amelie Lane (18.12), and sisters Millie (26.20), and Jessica Smith, (26.26).