A record number of 248 teams were on the start line at Braithwaite Lodge, Cumbria for the 2023 UK Athletics Fell & Hill Relays hosted by Keswick A.C and sponsored by Pete Bland Sports.

The first three male teams were separated by only seventy-four seconds. 2022 winners, Dark Peak Fell Runners, retained their title in a time of 3:30:00, just eighteen seconds ahead of  Keswick A.C, with Ambleside A.C  taking the bronze medals. The first female team were the 2021 winners, Helm Hill Runners who finished five minutes ahead of 2022 gold medallists, Ambleside A.C, with Black Combe in third place.

Ambleside A.C won the gold medals in both the male and female v40 categories in very tight finishes; their male team were only eight seconds ahead of Carnethy HRC, who were followed by Dark Peak Fell Runners. In the female teams contest, Dark Peak were only 23 seconds adrift of Ambleside, with Bingley Harriers third.

The fastest times on the short first leg were set by Oscar Subuh-Symons (Ambleside A.C), and Sara Wilhoit (Mercia). Willhoit, who ran two World Cup races in Gran Canaria last week, was eighth in the overall standings.

On the second leg, GB international mountain runners, Billy Cartwright & Dan Howarth (Matlock A.C.), and Holly Page and Naomi Lang (Carnethy HRC) were quickest.

The navigation leg saw Jonathan Crickmore & Tom Saville (Dark Peak) finish over four minutes ahead of their nearest rivals whilst the Ambleside pairing of Bryony Halcrow & Natalie Beadle were the fastest pair.

The last leg saw experienced internationals Jacob Adkin of Keswick and Phillipa Williams of Dark Peak take the honours.

Results

Information on the legs

Leg 1: 4.6km, 470m ascent/descent (solo)

Leg 2: 12.6km, 1030m ascent/descent (pairs)

Leg 3: 10.0km, 705m ascent/descent (navigation, pairs)

Leg 4: 6.9km, 560m ascent/descent

*Report provided by Ian Hartman