IN only three years, the Charlotte Slater Memorial Race has become a 'must do' fixture in the fell running calendar.

On Sunday, 300 runners, including over 150 juniors, braved appalling weather -- driving rain and waterlogged ground -- to race at Kelbrook.

It was a remarkable tribute to a brave 16-year-old who died of cancer three years ago, and to her parents Karen and Barry who will have raised another £2000 for the Candlelighters Children's Cancer Charity.

The tone of the day was not sombre however as minibuses full of children descended on Kelbrook including two from West St School in Colne, and several from Giggleswick who sent 60 children.

The under nine race saw records fall to Duncan Lund and Jenny Addison, daughter of former Clayton Harrier Shaun, but it was West St School of Colne who won the team event with Rebecca Thompson, Sam Marshall and Samantha Brown. Caleb Wetherill of the Slaters' own club Keighley and Craven won the under 12 race, while Ben Trevor of Catterall Hall was first under 14. Rachel Ingham of Park High School AC narrowly beat Burnley AC's Emma Graham to win the girls under 14 race.

The under 17's and under 20's ran the full 3.5 miles with the seniors, and in the ladies race the youngsters dominated. An exceptional talent, fourteen year old Kelli Roberts of Kendal was first lady setting a new under 17 record, while England Junior International Kate Rogan from Barnoldswick in second took the under 20 title. Charlotte Slater's fourteen year old sister Sheryl was fifth. Veteran winner was Jean Rawlinson of Rossendale as Pat Collier of Todmorden took L50 honours.

Todmorden Harrier Sean Willis was the men's winner in 24:01. Former international Sean Livesey now running unattached was 5th, but even without him Clayton Harriers won the team prize with Dave Walker 6th, Tony Chew 7th and Ian Greenwood 10th. Shaun Addison won the M40's, and Steve Hounslow from Trawden was 1st M45 representing Wharfedale. Pete Lyons of Rossendale and Brian Hargreaves of Todmorden were respective winners in the M50 and M65 divisions.

Men: 1 Sean Willis (T) 24:01, 2 Ian Taylor (Keighley and Craven) 24:16, 3 Will Smith (Keighley and Craven) 24:26, 4 (1st Under 20) Chris Water (Giggleswick School) 24:32, 5 Sean Livesey (u/a) 24:48, 6 Dave Walker (C) 25:10, 7 Tony Chew (C) 25:25, 10 Ian Greenwood (C) 25:50, 12 (1st M40) Sean Addison (Kendal) 26:12, 14 Gary Sumner (R) 26:30, 18 Dave Waterworth (C) 27:39, 19 Mick Keegan (C) 27:46, 20 Alan Life (C) 27:47, 21 Dave Collins (T) 27:49, 24 (1st M50) Pete Lyons (R) 28:10, 25 Derek Donaghue (T) 28:14, 26 (1st M45) Steve Hounslow (Wharfedale) 28:15, 35 (2nd M50) Barry Mitchell (C) 28:54, 36 Lee Pascco (C) 28:57, 39 Simon Galloway (T) 29:09, 1st M65 Brian Hargreaves (T) 42:59 Team: 1 Clayton (Walker, Chew, Greenwood)

Ladies: 1 (1st Under 17) Kelli Roberts (Kendal) 29:26 (under 17 record), 2 (1st U20) Kate Rogan (Wharfedale) 30:57, 3 (2nd U20) Rebecca Robinson (Kendal) 31:12, 6 (4th U17) Sheryl Slater (Skipton AC) 31:43, 9 (1st veteran) Jean Rawlinson (R) 34:41, 10 Anne Smith (PHS) 34:46, 1st L50 Pat Collier (T)

Juniors: Under 9's: 1 (1st boy) Duncan Lund (Settle) 4:58 (record), 2 (1st girl) Jenny Addison (Kendal) 5:06 (record), 3 (2nd girl) Rebecca Thompson (West St) 5:32, 4 (2nd boy) Joss Addison (Kendal) 5:39, 5 (3rd boy) Sam Marshall (West St) 5:56, 7 (3rd girl) Chloe Chew (Sacred Heart School, Colne) 6:06 Team: 1 West St School, Colne (Thompson, Marshall, 14th Samantha Brown 7:14)

Under 12's: 1 (1st boy) Caleb Wetherill (Keighley and Craven) 13:02, 4 (4th boy) Ramiro Meeks (R) 13:28, 17 (1st girl) Claire Lilley (Catterall Hall) 15:05, 26 (4th girl) Emma Thompson (West St) 16:23

Under 14's: 1 (1st boy) Ben Trevor (Catterall Hall) 17:02, 16 (1st girl) Rachel Ingham (PHS) 20:03, 20 (2nd girl) Emma Graham (Burnley) 20:21, 22 (4th girl) Nicola Leishman (R) 21:55

Key: C-Clayton Harriers, PHS-Park High School AC, R-Rossendale Harriers, T-Todmorden Harriers