DEFENDING champion Lauren Jeska maintained her excellent start to the 2012 English Fell Championships by winning the female race in Saturday’s Great Lakes Run at Great Langdale.

The 37-year-old Todmorden Harrier navigated one of the toughest courses on the fell running calendar in 3:28:38 to finish 40th overall.

Gisburn’s Tom Cornthwaite was the winner by an astonishing seven and a half minutes at Sunday’s Hendon Brook Half Maraton at Nelson.

The Blackburn Harrier was first past the post in 1:17:15, with Clayton duo Matthew Lalor (1:25:33) and Ian Livesey (1:26:30) third and fourth.

Sarah Ridehalgh of Accrington Road Runners won the female race in 1:31:39.

Beckie Taylor of Blackburn Harriers (22:16) finished fourth at the Karrimor Great Trail Challenge in the Elite Junior Women section.

Rossendale’s Joe Johnston (35:33) was seventh in the junior men, while Blackburn Harrier Josh Tighe (35:04) came 13th in the elite men.

Last Thursday’s Walsh Two Lads Fell Race in Horwich was won by Rob Hope, who lives in Wheelton, near Chorley, in 32:31.