Bingley Harriers finished sixth in Sunday’s HODGSON BROTHERS MOUNTAIN RELAY.

Their 3hr 36min 46sec for the four legs was 11 minutes off the time by habitual winners, Borrowdale.

Originally the Ian Hodgson Relay when started in 1986 after Ian’s death in a cycling accident, it also honours his brother, Mike, who died in August.

The total distance is 24.5 miles with 8,500ft of climbing. The route traverses many of the best known mountains in the Lake District, including Hart Crag, Fairfield, St Sunday Crag, High Street and Red Screes.

This year saw fine weather as Ged Callan and Matt Merrick brought Bingley in fifth after the opening leg, 6.7km from Patterdale to Hartsop. Keswick were leading at this stage.

Andy Peace and Andy Brown took on the 11km leg to Kirkstone over High Street summit, with 890m of climbing. Their 69min 40sec meant Bingley dropped to seventh, with Dark Peak a minute outside the leg record in 61:16.

Victoria Wilkinson, the only female running in any of the top teams, joined Andrew Jebb for the 7.5km third leg to Sykeside. Their remarkable time of 50:59 was over six minutes quicker than the leg record for a ladies pairing.

Ian Holmes and Rob Jebb gained a place on the final leg. They ended well clear of Wharfedale in seventh but three minutes behind Helm Hill in fifth.

Calder Valley took Yorkshire honours in third, ahead of Sheffield’s Dark Peak. Pudsey & Bramley were a good 12th, with Holmfirth 33rd and Todmorden 37th.

Ikley’s men suffered two nasty injuries but got round to finish 44th. Ilkley ladies (50th), Keighley & Craven (57th) and Otley (64th) were among the 70 teams finishing.

The previous weekend saw the third and final leg of the DALES TRAIL SERIES: three races over 20km, 30km and 40km. The final Semer Water, in Raydale, involved over 3000ft of ascent and one long muddy drag of almost 12km.

Saltaire Striders’ Ali Nash, assisted by careful refuelling every five miles from his wife, fought his way ecstatically to the over-40 title, sixth overall.