THERE were a host of excellent performances during the annual fell running pilgrimage north to the Famous Alva Games at Clackmannanshire in Scotland.

The senior race might not be the longest in the summer calendar but it is certainly one of the most exhilarating, particularly on the descent.

The Alva Games Open Hill Race is known across the globe and this year attracted runners from France, the United States and Canada, in addition to local runners and those from elsewhere in the UK.

This year the weather had been particularly wet leading up to the race, including a 4am deluge on the day of the event.

Ordinarily dusty paths became greasy with mud and the grass became super slippery.

On the way up, this merely slowed competitors as they slipped backwards with each step. However, it made the descent an even more adrenaline-soaked slide on their backsides to the base of the hill.

Barlick's Jimmy Craig led the runners out of the show field but the climb rearranged the pecking order as others battled strongly to overtake him, making him fifth to the top.

The descent shuffled the competitors further and the real battle for supremacy commenced.

As if the speedy descent was not risky enough, the front-runners had to navigate their way around those still on their way up who were concentrating on their feet and not the man-sized cannonballs hurtling towards them from above.

The eventual race winner was Hunters Bog Trotters competitor Duncan Coombs (21.34), followed by Craig (21.45) and Carnethy's James Waldie (22.10).

The ladies race was won by Edinburgh University's Louise Mercer (26.29), who was an impressive 12th overall.

Second and third ladies were Settle Harriers' Judith Marshall (32.41) and Cumberland Fell Runners' Lindsay Buck (34.13).

The under-17s race was won by Keighley and Craven's Joe Hudson (11.33), followed by clubmate Tom Barrett in second (11.59) and Helm Hill's Jacob Aubrey third (12.07).

The girls' race was won by Keighley and Craven's Katie Atkinson (15.38) followed by Wharfedale Harriers' Emily Jones (18.08) and Keighley's Alana Willis in third (22.04).

The under-14s race was won by Joe's brother Louis Hudson (9.48), while second and third boys were Settle's Thomas Marshall (9.59) and Keighley's Harvey Lewis (10.03).

The corresponding girls' race was won by Wharfedale's Alice Jones (11.25), with second and third being Wharfedale team-mate Charlotte Barrett (13.09) and Alva local Megan Paterson (31.32).

The under-12s race was won by Helm Hill's Henry Hunter (10.49) ahead of Calder Valley's James Duffy (11.22) and Ilkley Harriers' Lewis Carr in third (11.27).

The girls' race was a Broughton Runners one-two as sisters Emily and Olivia took first (12.25) and second (14.26) respectively, with Central AC's Leah Stenhouse third (14.49).