Keswick AC’s Carl Bell has become British Fell Running champion for the second time in three years after doing just enough in Scotland at the Creag Dhubh hill race to win the series overall.

Saturday’s race was a short counter which doesn’t suit Carl’s strengths but, after finishing eighth, he came out with just enough points to win the championship.

Bell said: “It’s been an interesting season as I didn’t intend doing the British championships, but after a good result in Wales and winning Great Lakes fell race I had to go for it.

“Leading up to the Scottish race it’s been a bit of a whirlwind with massive highs – getting married – to extreme lows as I lost my uncle in tragic circumstances.

“Since my uncle’s death he’s been in my thoughts a lot, even when out running.

“And that’s why I felt even more pressure as I wanted to win the championship in his memory.”

Keswick’s Mark Lamb finished in third place in the championship after finishing fourth in Scotland.

The club’s men won the team prize for the third year in a row.

It was also the challenging Borrowdale fell race at the weekend where a different Keswick men’s team managed to win.

The popular run attracted 282 competitors and was won for the seventh time by Ricky Lightfoot, quickly followed by Keswick’s Brennan Townshend.

The ladies winner was Majka Kunicka from Dark Peak Fell Runners.

Dan Mills and Steve Halsall coming in fourth and seventh ensured a Keswick win.

The Keswick women’s team did not clinch the team prize but still ran well, with Lucy Burnett ninth, Rachel Findlay-Robinson 13th and Lesley Malarkey 21st out of 27 women who completed the race.

Other great results for the club over the weekend included Katie Kaars Sijpesteijn and Charlie Bradshaw taking first and second at the Peak Skyline in Derbyshire and, in the recent Lakeland 100, Rob Allen finished 13th and Andy Slattery completed the race for the fourth time. Completing the Lakeland 50 for Keswick were Craig Marsh and Sarah Mellodew.