FELL races have started again after the pandemic lockdowns, and on Sunday morning, the Esk Valley Fell Club held the Commondale Clart Fell Race, part of the Dave Parry Winter Series, sponsored by the Let's Run shop in Stokesley.

After a cold and frosty night, runners faced muddy and icy conditions over the moorland, but at least had bright sunlight, starting and finishing at Commondale Village Hall.

Not surprisingly, the runners were well spaced out after the climb out of Commondale village and the winner after just over 40 minutes was Nicholas Barber from Helm Hill RC, Kendal, closely followed by Steve Donaldson from the Esk Valley Fell Club in second, and Joe Leadley, Loftus and Whitby AC in third. The ladies winner was Catherine Williamson, Loftus and Whitby AC, with Rose Mather, Knavesmire Harriers, York, second, and Kay Neesam, New Marske Harriers, in third. The men's team prize was taken by Esk Valley Fell RC and the ladies' team prize by Knavesmire Harriers RC.

Organiser Dave Bannister said: “The conditions were icy and runners had to watch their footing. When it wasn't icy, it was quite boggy and all the runners returned with muddy legs, one or two were bleeding from the knee after taking tumbles.”