THE cream is rising to the top in the British and English Fell Championship after two more races in the last month.

A good result at the Sedbergh Three Peaks Race was imperative for anyone serious about doing well in both competitions, as it was the only English round of the British Championships and a counter in both championships.

After the Holme Moss in Yorkshire there is only one round left in the English Championship.

Rob Hope is looking to become the first man to win four British titles in succession and to match Ian Holmes, who is still the only four-time winner.

The Wheelton-based runner was second at Sedbergh School over a short course of 4.1 miles to move to the head of the British Championship.

Previously he was third at the Silent Valley Race in Northern Ireland, but both athletes who beat him that day missed Sedbergh, and that removes them from contention as it is the only short race in the series.

Even better for Hope, Sedbergh winner Tim Davies had a poor result in Northern Ireland – although Davies can still make amends as there is a second medium distance race still to go at Dollar in Scotland.

The decider will be at the Black Mountains in Wales on the last week in September. Hope is leader of the English Championship with one round to go.

He was the joint winner in 2005 and after finishing third at the Holme Moss Race at Holmfirth he is seven points clear of Lloyd Taggart.

Four athletes, Hope, Taggart, Ian Holmes and Rob Jebb, have the chance to win the English title with victory at Glossop’s Shelf Moor on September 5, but if none of the other three manages to win, then the title belongs to Hope.

Lauren Jeska has emerged as a front runner this season after finishing a modest 19th in the English Championship last year with a highest placing of seventh.

At Holmfirth she won the first Championship race of her career covering the 17 miles in 2:49:31.

She also helped Todmorden Harriers to take the team award with support from Sarah May (10th) and Kath Brierley in 22nd.

She lies second in the English Championship now but only a win at Glossop would be enough to overhaul leader Olivier Walwyn.

Despite her second place at the Silent Night race, she remains an outsider for the British title with Philippa Maddams having won both races, and is lying third with two rounds remaining.