A new generation of runners are stamping their names on local athletics, as highlighted in round two of the Winter Hill League on Saturday.

For the first time in the 20-year history of the league, a junior athlete took the outright victory at Cringle plantation.

And, to hammer the point home, another Year 10 pupil from Ramsey Grammar School outsprinted a local fell-running legend for second place.

The win went to 14-year-old Lucas Stennett of Maughold by a margin of seven seconds from fellow Northern AC runner Sam Perry, who showed no mercy to 52-year-old Lloyd Taggart in the sprint along the banks of the reservoir.

’Lukie’ Stennett led throughout over a newly-mapped course that included a very tough start climbing the steep, grassed-bank at the head of the reservoir.

The route then wended its way up the southern side of the plantation, crossing the lower part of the Whiskey Run, and taking the long steady ascent that winds itself up the often muddy narrow path parallel to Whiskey Run (on the eastern side).

Exiting at the top end of the path (used for Chris Cale’s South Barrule trail run in the opposite direction), the course then took the mountain bike paths from the top corner of Cringle plantation (nearest to Round Table crossroads) and wended its way round the peripherals as used for the same race in previous years.

This includes two steep climbs that always provide a sting in the tail of the race, which covered a total distance of approximately three miles.

The nimble physiques and sturdy lungs of the leading teenagers stood them in good stead all the way to the finish.

The first seniors home were Oliver Chambers and Sam Looker of the organising club, Manx Fell Runners, in fourth and fifth positions.

Year 11 boy Gethin Owen of Western held off Year 10 Charlie Teare of Northern, with Matt Callister the leading veteran over-40 in eighth.

Year 12, Harry Kneen, was ninth and Phil Knox the third senior in 10th, while Year 7 boy Harry Stennett (younger brother of the winner) took the scalp of former league winner Ben Corkill in 11th place.

There was a very close finish to the women’s race, with Jackie Lee (Taggart) outsprinting Jess Bryan for 21st place overall in a starting field of 103 - of which 40 were female.

Here again there was an impressive performance from Year 11 girl Madison McMullan in 25th spot, a little over 22 seconds behind the leading pair.

Catherine Perry (Year 12) and Lottie Stennett (Year 11) were next. No fewer than five members of the Stennett family participated - including both parents (Ali and Ally)!

The leading over-60s were John Norrey and Keith Lowe, two seconds apart in 45th and 46th, with Jane Rose the first female in that category (84th).

Astonishingly, almost 10 percent of the finishers were over the age of 60. organised by Manx Fell Runners.

Year 10 Lucas Stennett of Northern AC was the athlete who achieved this brilliant feat in what was the 62nd Winter Hill race since the popular series started in the autumn of 2001 - this is the 21st season. What was even more remarkable was that the runner-up was also a Year 10 Northern AC athlete Samuel Perry, who outsprinted fell running legend Lloyd Taggart right at the end to take second place in a field of 103 runners.

These were magnificent performances, and they didn’t stop there with Year 11 Gethin Owen in sixth, Year 10 Charlie Teare seventh, Year 12 Harry Kneen ninth and Year 7 Harry Stennett 11th.

What a difference a year makes! In the same race last year Lucas was a retirement having injured his ankle, so it must have been incredibly sweet for him to come back and win the race this year!