Charles Stead of Northumberland Fell Runners had a fantastic run in Saturday's Brecon Beacons Race which was the last of the British Fell Running Championships.

The race was over 19 miles with 4500 feet of climb, with temperatures on the high side the race was tough for all the competitors. Stead (pictured), a partner in the Newcastle-based specialist running shop, Northern Runner, finished eighth.

His best British Championship position before this run was 20th place.

The Lanchester based fell runner spent the week prior to the event camping on the course so he could reccy the route. Stead said: "I am so pleased, it was a bit scary setting of so fast and I thought I had over cooked it a few times, I can't wait for next season now to see if I can improve further."

The course took in the well known hills of Pen-Y-Fan, Corn Du and Cryfal with the dry weather making the ground hard the runners feet took a real bashing.