THE English fell running champion Ben Rothery took on the Kilnsey crag race at Tuesday's Kilnsey Show for the first time this year. 

The doctor, from Ilkley, put the field to bed storming to victory in eight minutes.

Runner up, the English U23 champ and Ben's closest rival throughout the season, was Finlay Grant from Glossopdale . He, like most, struggled with the slippery conditions.

Third place was Tom Bell from Fellbeck. Tom is a national champion mountain biker and road hill cyclist who is now showing his talent as a fell runner.

Fourth place went to Harry Cooling from the Howgills just keeping ahead of a great family fight for fifth and sixth overall. Oliver Bailey, this year’s British Open Fell Runners Association (BOFA) U17 champion stepped up take dad on in the senior race.

Simon, a multiple English champion and two time winner at Kilnsey, was struggling to keep with young Oliver's pace. But the 44-year old would not give up in the ding dong battle up the home straight.

A smiling Simon said afterwards: "He’s not beaten me yet." The drive home back to their Cheshire farm looked like being a long one for Oliver as sister Bleu won the U12 girls crag race.

First lady in the senior crag went to Sharon Taylor from Staveley in the Lakes. It was a great day for her and her kids. Son Jos won the U12s crag race and daughter Isla was outstanding, winning the U14s outright and placed above all the U17 girls.

Sharon also came third in the metric mile handicap. Ten times crag race winner Rob Hope returned to Kilnsey with daughter Emma.

Rob won the metric mile handicap, came 12th and first Veteran 50 in the crag race but Emma beat dad in the 100 metre handicap heats. Emma went on to come second in the final behind Keighley's Ethan Heggarty who started off scratch, with Zac Stanforth in third.

Wharfedale Harrier Tom Hooper had a great day at the sports. He was second to Hope in the mile but went on to win the U17s crag race.

New for this year was an U9s race around the track. Keighley's Hugo Baldwin just held on for the win from his fast finishing team mate Ronnie Brewer. Isobel Moore from Otley winning the girls ahead of Harley Bradley from Carlton.