THE fell races at Gargrave Show are going from strength to strength with competitor numbers increasing each year.

There were 92 entries in the senior section on Saturday and 160 in total when all the Junior numbers were added together.

The race features one of the best multi-terrain courses in the North of England and is suited to runners of all abilities.

Richard Mellor a veteran runner had travelled from High Peak in Derbyshire especially for the race and 57-year-old Brian Davey, a member of the Southport Waterloo Running Club, had made the journey from the north west.

Emma Craig travelled from Glasgow to join her brother Jimmy, who lives in Hellified, on the start line.

Twenty-four-year-old Jimmy is a member of Barlick Fell Runners and he dominated the race from start to finish.

His diminutive frame seemingly carrying an exceptional lung capacity!

Jimmy was awarded the Silentnight trophy for his endeavours which has been held in the past by the fell running legends of yesteryear, Reeves, Sedgewick, Stuart and Hawkins to name just a few.

Second place went to Duncan Birtwhistle of Bishop Monkton, a member of the University of Bristol Orienteering Club with the Skiptpm-based Barlick fell runner Julian Hood in third place.

First home for the ladies was former English junior fell running champion Emma Hopkinson of Wharfedale Harriers. She was 17th overall.

The first local was William Beckwith of Gargrave in ninth position overall.

The junior section races included competitors from Colarado in the USA . Horwich RMI Harriers included the racesas part of their junior fell running championship.

Brother and sister, Will and Katie Atkinson of Gargrave are both members of Keighley and Craven and they both won trophies in the local race section.

Katie is a pupil at Skipton Girls High School and is a North Yorkshire Cross Country running champion, she has also tasted success in the 800metre event at the Yorkshire track and field championships.

Katie was the first girl in the under-14s while Charlotte Barrett was first girl in the under-12srace and they won the Weatherill trophy for the highest-placed local female.

Kate's brother Will was second in the under-12s race so he was awarded the Donald McKell trophy for the highest-placed local male from any age group.

Wharfedale Harrier Nathan Caunt from Carleton won the boys under-nines race.

Maggie Hudson from Skipton, a member of Keighley and Craven, was first girl.

Her brother Louis won the under-12 race and elder sibling brother Joe was second in the under-14s behind Euan Brennan of Ilkley Harriers. Wharfedale Harrier Thomas Nelson led the under-17s home.

Prize winners

Under Nines- Boys: 1 Nathan Caunt (Wharfedale Harriers) 6.01, 2. Finlay Testa (Rossendale) 6.09, 3 Douglas Seggar Staveley (Settle Harriers) 6.11, 4 Ed Whitam (Unattached) 6.26, 5 Dylan Carr (Ilkley) 6.32.

Girls: 1 Maggie Hudson (Keighley & Craven) 7.02, 2 Eibithis Price

(Wharfedale Harriers) 7.06, 3 Mollie Smith (Wharfedale Harriers). 7.30. First local girl: Zara Pratt (unattached) 8.05.

Under-12s - Boys: 1 Louis Hudson (Keighley & Craven) 6.24, 2 Will Atkinson (Keighley & Craven) 6.29 (first local boy), 3 Harvey Lewis.

(Keighley & Craven) 6.31, 4 Sam Smith (Wharfedale Harriers) 6.36, 5 Toby Middleton (Horwich) 6.54.

Girls: 1 Charlotte Barrett (Wharfedale Harriers) 7.20 (first local girl), 2 Ella Pendlebury (Horwich) 7.29, 3 Emma Peel (Keighley & Craven) 7.40.

Under-14- Boys: 1 Euan Brennan (Ilkley Harriers) 8.56, 2 Joe Hudson (Keighley & Craven) 9.05, 3 Matthew Mackay (Rossendale) 9.18, 4 Sam Jackson (Keighley & Craven) 9.19, 5 Ollie Howson (unattached) 9.54.

Girls: 1 Katie Atkinson (Keighley & Craven) 10.29 (first local girl), 2 Shona Hastings (Wharfedale Harriers) 11.03.

Under-17-Boys: 1 Thomas Nelson (Wharfedale Harriers) 13.27, 2 Robbie Johnstone (Wharfedale Harriers) 14.40, 3 Josh Atkinson (Unattached), 4 Roddy Bannister (unattached) 18.48.

Girls: 1 Joanne Williamson (Ilkley Harriers) 18.20, 2 Holly Carter (unattached)19.08.

Seniors- men: 1 Jimmy Craig (Barlick Fell Runners) 23.04, 2 Duncan Birtwhistle (University of Bristol Orienteering Club) 23.51, 3 Julian Hood (Barlick Fell Runners) 24.12, 4 Craig Shearer (Keighley & Craven) 24.13, 5 Martin Gosling (Leeds City) 24.26, 6 Lee Athersmith (Bingley RAF) 24.38.

First male veteran: 1 Garry Beardwood (Helm Hill) 26.20.

First Local Male: William Beckwith (Unattached) 25.36.

Females: 1. Emma Hopkinson (Wharfedale Harriers) 28.12, 2 Lindsey Oldfield (Calder Valley) 29.50, 3 Pippa Barrett (Keighley & Craven) 31.15.

First local lady: Melanie Bennett (unattached) 39.42.