ERMYSTED’S had a fantastic day on the fells overlooking Settle, with the Year Seven team becoming national champions at the English Schools’ Fell Running Championships, hosted by Giggleswick School.

On a warm day, the Year Sevens confirmed their early season form with a team victory, led home by bronze medallist Ewen Wilkinson

Meanwhile, the Inters took team bronze and the Seniors were silver medallists, as Louis Hudson missed out on individual glory by a whisker.

After starting on a flat school field, the Year Sevens soon came across a stream crossing, followed by a steep rise, before hitting the real hill above Giggleswick Scar and quarry.

It was on the ascent that Ewen made his challenge, as he overtook several rivals including team-mate Tom Hooper. He kept going after the crest of the hill and made it into the podium places when he returned to the school fields for the sprint home.

Tom kept going for the team to finish 12th, while Joe Greening completed the team scorers coming in 21st. Their team total of 36 points was 39 ahead of second place and they became national champions.

Their non-scorers were Rowan Box (34th), Oliver Goodwin (48th), Hamza Al-Momani (62nd) and Sam Henderson (71st).

Other Craven runners were Settle’s Jack Sanderson (18th) and Ned Whittaker (47th), as well as South Craven’s Lucca Powell (42nd).

In the girls' race, Skipton Girls High runners Lucille Pickles and Emily Anderson came 5th and 20th respectively, with Settle’s Charlotte Peart 13th and South Craven’s Layla Kirkly 14th.

The Year Eight and Nine team were next, led by Dougie Seggar-Staveley, who was in front for the first half mile or so.

He started to go backwards up the steep climb, while team-mate Sam Bentham moved up. Sam eventually finished in 22nd and Dougie 23rd. Their team was completed by Freddie Smith, who had a cracking run in 45th.

Their total of 90 points gave them fifth, just 21 behind the winners.

Their non-scorers were Theo Sturman (65th), Aryaan Ghafoor (68th), Finlay Farrell (70th), Finlay Petrucci (71st), Kalyan Dhillon-Downey (74th), Joe Davies (81st), Owyn Applegarth (85th) and Samesh Chotai (92nd).

The best local runners were Upper Wharfedale’s Jacob Reeday (fifth) and Settle’s Oliver Brummit (73rd), while in the girls' race, there was South Craven’s Olivia Aldham (18th), Skipton Girls' Megan Wilkinson (20th) and Settle’s Connie Ecclestone (62nd).

The Year 10/11 race saw the runners complete three and a half miles with over 800 feet of ascent. Alex Thompson led Ermysted’s challenge, while in the girls’ race, Alice Jones (Skipton Girls) was to the fore.

Alex finished in 11th, spearheading his team’s challenge and Ben Rees continued his excellent early season form to come 17th.

Jath Lee completed the team with 35th for a total of 63 points and team bronze, while Andrew Robinson was the non-scorer in 43rd.

But pride of place went to Alice, who claimed silver, while team-mate Lilli Carr was seventh.

The Seniors ran four miles with over 900 feet of climb. The Ermysted’s team was strong with several runners at the sharp end of the race. Louis Hudson was Ermysted’s best placed athlete and he moved to the front as they approached the summit of the climb.

However, he could not shake off Lucas Parker from Stockport and lost out by the narrowest of margins in the sprint for the line. This is the fourth time that unlucky Louis has been national runner-up.

It was a good start in the team competition and Joe Carnelley was next in sixth, with Seb Seggar-Staveley 18th.

As it turned out they and Marple both had 26 points but Marple won on count back, so Louis and his team were just pipped to the title. Their non-scorers were both highly placed, as Matthew Kenneth came 20th and Laurie Petrucci 23rd.

At the final presentation, the results of the overall schools competition were revealed.

Ermysted’s find it hard to win the overall event as it only has boys. Despite a good showing in the four races they could enter, Ermysted’s only managed third, but were just four points behind the winners.

It was another great day on the fells and one that all the runners, especially the Ermysted's Year Sevens, will remember fondly.