A strong field of approximately 450 runners from across the British Isles will compete in the Kate Burge Sea-to-Summit fell race this Saturday.

This, the fourth edition of the race in memory of a popular local resident who died in a road cycling collision in 2014, will form a round of the 2018 English Fell Running Championship.

The Manx leg will be the first English championship race to feature a summit finish.

The race starts on Laxey Promenade and finishes at the summit of Snaefell, taking in the summits of Slieau Ouyr, Clagh Ouyr, Mullagh Ouyr and Snaefell itself.

It will cover a distance of 14 kilometres (8.7 miles), climbing a total vertical height of 1,200 metres (3,937 feet).

The women’s event will start at midday, with the men’s one hour later at 1 o’clock.

The top five men and women in the English championship have entered.

A favourite in the men’s race must be Carl Bell of Keswick AC who has taken victory in two out of the three races so far this season. Chasing him will be Billy Cartwright (Matlock AC) and Karl Gray (Calder Valley AC) who are leaders in the veteran-40 and veteran-45 categories.

Daniel Haworth (Keswick AC) and Rob Jebb (Helm Hill Harriers), who had a great race in the most recent round, should also finish strongly and will certainly challenge the leading local runners.

The pre-race favourites in the women’s event include Kelli Roberts, Sharon Taylor (both Helm Hill Harriers) and Caitlin Rice (Ribble Valley).

In the under-23 category, Hannah Russell should be a strong competitor whereas in the veteran-50 category, Nina Skilton (Cannock & Stafford AC), who has competed in Kate’s Race in previous years, Rowena Browne and Jean Powell - another regular visitor to the island - should also figure strongly.

Other noteworthy competitors are Kenneth Taylor (Rossendale) and Mike Wallis (Clayton-le-Moor Harriers) - leaders in the male veteran 60 and 70 categories respectively.

In the women’s field, Wendy Dodds (Clayton-le-Moors) - who has been competing in fell races for almost 50 years - and Nicky Spinks (Dark Peak Fell Runners), who has also set many fell running records, is also on the start sheet.

There is a team competition. Currently the men’s 1-2-3 are Keswick, Calder Valley and Dark Peak Runners; while the leading three women’s teams are Calder Valley, Todmorden and Dark Peak.

Because of the closure of the Mountain Road, buses have been laid on to take spectators up to the Bungalow where the runners will cross the footbridge on their way to the finish.

Alternatively, supporters can take the Snaefell Mountain Railway from Laxey.

l During and after the event, there is a festival on Laxey Promenade with prize giving at 5pm. All welcome.

MAGGIE WATKINS