Last updated 19:26, Thursday, 13 November 2008

CLEATOR Moor-based Martin Amor has retained his title as Cumberland Fell Runners’ overall champion.

CHAMP: Martin Amor

He will be crowned once more at the club's annual presentation night in January.

Amor was selective in 2008, and completed the minimum six races from the 12 races chosen for this year’s campaign.

Amor also won the open U40 men’s title impressively but was kept up to his task throughout by Simon Hunter, who returned to the hills in fine style this term.

Last year’s most improved runner recipient, Gavin Pattison, secured third along with the coveted Cumberland Cup awarded each year to the CFR member who scores highest points in all 12 club championship events.

Newcomer Paul Crickett has been a revelation in his first year in the sport and can be delighted with his fourth in this age group in which Steven O’Keefe was fifth and Jamie Rackham sixth.

In the ladies’ championship, evergreen Kate Beaty remains the one they all have to beat.

Hayton-based Beaty has dominated the CFR ladies’ categories for many years and keeps coming back for more.

However, runner-up Kate Cooper has made superb progress this season and is on the upward curve for sure.

As with Cooper, third-placed Lindsay Buck from Gosforth continues to run the fells with great style and credibility.

Another CFR lady who has bounced back well in 2008 is Tallentire's Melanie Bradley who raced well to make sure of fourth.

The Vet40 men’s champion for this term is Melanie’s husband Andy, though he had to pull out all the stops to keep Whitehaven’s Charles Mason off his heels.

Other men to fare well were Mark Steele (third), Paul Jennings (fourth) and Mike Park (fifth).

Just one point split the Vet45 champion, Jerry Dawson, from runner-up, Whitehaven-based Trevor Wilkinson.

Dawson was in dominant form in the spring and early summer but found himself hanging on as injury held him back.

Third-placed Nick Moore, like Wilkinson, ran in every one of the 12 counters and was a picture of consistency.

Fourth in this age group went to the reliable Mark Graham who held his form well.

The Vet50 men’s trophy stays with Embleton’s Peter Crompton this time around but a late-season charge from Arlecdon man Willie Bell saw him looking over his shoulder. Third for this year was to be occupied by Egremont’s Irvine Block, with Roger Grey safely in for fourth after a good season.

The Vet55 category went to the reigning English champion Jackie Winn. The remarkable Maryport-based fellsman won his 2008 English title with consumate ease, dominating his category from the word go.

On the local front at club level it was another solid year for second-placed Rob James. The popular David Fell travels all over Cumbria from his Ulverston home to compete for CFR and took the Vet60 title.

CFR are proud to call Don Rigg one of their own. Rigg deserves to bring the house down on prize-giving night as he strides out to accept his Vet70 championship trophy.

He completed six tough races to make up his quota, and many congratulations will go out to a remarkable athlete.

There is still one more fell race for CFR members before the old year comes to a close, the AGM Handicap Dash on December 6.

This is a superb race to the top of Crag Fell, Ennerdale, and back, prior to the club’s annual meeting at 2pm in the Fox and Hounds. The race starts at 12noon. All welcome.