ROB Hope completed the Grand Slam of England's premier short course fell running when he won the Kilnsey event.

Fresh from his triumph at Burnsall on Saturday and Grasmere on Sunday, Hope, from Leeds, triumphed in 8 minutes 32 seconds on Tuesday.

In a race where the lead changed hands on numerous occasions, Hope had to pull out all the stops to hold off a tremendous late charge from the Malham race winner, Robert Hudson.

The Skipton man fairly flew down the crag to finish second and hard on his heels was another international and king of the Yorkshire Three Peaks, Andy Peace, from Haworth, who remarkably is now firing on all cylinders after a course of treatment for cancer.

Peace was followed in by another local favourite and the early pace setter, Ted Mason, from Appletreewick, who has enjoyed numerous successes over the summer.

Settle's Anthony Shepherd was top veteran.

Hope had turned the tables on Ian Holmes in the Burnsall Classic on Saturday.

Running in the colours of Pudsey and Bingley, he had recorded the fastest ever time of 8 minutes 22 seconds for an ascent the last time the race was run in 2000, only to be caught and beaten by downhill master Holmes.

This time Hope was again first to the top, 50 seconds slower than in 2000, but this time there was no catching him on the descent.

Holmes finished second, just holding off the challenge of Andy Peace, five times winner of the event in the past, although both were awarded the same time.

There was a poignant moment in the ladies event at Kilnsey as Yorkshire champion Kirsten Bailey triumphed in her first race back after bereavement following the tragic death of her fiance and fellow Yorkshire champion, John Taylor.

Bailey conquered ahead of England international Jo Prowse from Ilkley with Settle's Jill Pilkington running into third.

The under-17 crag race also proved to be a cracker as Ulverston's Chris Doyle, an England star at this summer's Black Forest Games in Germany, gained a last-gasp victory over Skipton's Stuart Hunn.

Aireville School pupil Hunn, trained by the race commentator Roger Ingham, held a handy lead down the last steep embankment but he crashed into the beck to lose vital yards after clearing the wall. Doyle closed the gap and struck decisively down the home straight.

The winner's time was 8 minutes 53 seconds.

In the under-17 girls' race Sheryl Slater, from Giggleswick, beat fellow Yorkshire schools hockey player Sally Coates from Coniston Cold, with both girls finishing high in the overall order.

In the under-14s Joe Forrest of Coverdale triumphed ahead of the first local, Tom Anderson, of Threshfield, with Bradford's Joe Simpson third. The corresponding girls' event resulted in victory for Accrington's Grace Biddle with Libby May (South Cave) second.

Under-12 boys winner was Liam Horsfall (Halifax), ahead of Thomas Sessford (Keighley), while the girls' winner was Emma Thompson (Colne) with Lois Grinstead (Grassington) third.

A popular event is the handicap races. The 100 metres was won by Guiseley's Tom Bowman, who recently set a new sprint hurdles record at the European Masters Championships in Berlin.

He finished in 9.23 seconds ahead of Skipton's Richard Barrett and local footballer Chris Simpson, from Gargrave.

In the 440 yards hurdle Eric Smart from Wallsend scorched to victory in 53.94 seconds ahead of ex-Skiptonian Brian Howell, now living in York with back marker off the handicap Mick Hawkins (Hawkswick) third.

The one mile handicap was won by Harvey Gott, from Milnthorpe, a former back marker who has moved to the front as the years have passed. He beat Paul Wilkinson (Kendal) and James Mason (Grassington).

Holmes gained consolation for his disappointment at Burnsall when he led from first to last to win at Hebden.

He had Mark Roberts following him home on Monday, with Ted Mason taking third place and the prize for first local.

Mason was also in the thick of the action at Malham Show on Saturday, when he not only took part in the dry stone walling competition, but also finished second in the senior fell race.

Robert Hudson finished at the head of the field, with Greg Hull taking third place.

The action switched to Reeth Show on Wednesday, when victory for David Shepherd clinched the BOFRA Under 14 championship.