Fell runners hot on the heels of a champion

But Ernest Dalzell kept his feet and the timer's watch indicated he had descended the fell in 2 min 42 sec. It was a record speed for this race which had first been staged in 1850.

The local vicar, an enthusiast, challenged it. But the sceptics were overruled and Dalzell's time, 12 minutes 59.8 seconds for the entire course, was not to be beaten for the next 67 years.

Like so many men who compete in this, one of the most lung-bursting, thigh-destroying sports on earth, Dalzell was born with fell racing in his bones.

He won his first race when he was 21, at Grasmere, in 1905, and he worked as a gamekeeper at Ormathwaite. Someone who often watched him on his fearless descents said he could leap down a fell "with the speed of a Helvellyn fox and the surefootedness of a Martindale deer".

The heavy baggy shorts and even heavier boots of his era, gave way to specialised running gear and a more systematic approach to training which helped improve runners' times.

Yet Dalzell's Burnsall record proved impregnable. A special race was run on September 12, 1953, to challenge it, and and Bill Teasdale, known as the Caldbeck Shepherd, attracted such attention and publicity that he hardly had time for a warm-up. He went through the finish line at 14.07 – second fastest to Dalzell.

Burnsall staged another special race, the Silver Jubilee Challenge, on June 18, 1977. The big hope this time was Fred Reeves who had a training schedule of 50 to 60 miles a week. Five timekeepers were present and they recorded he had shaved 12.6 seconds off Dalzell's record.

John Clark, who is in charge of publicity for Burnsall Feast Sports, has been looking at the old record books. "We are hoping for a bumper entry and a huge crowd for this very special occasion," he says.

For details of other Burnsall events today, ring 0796 9512743.

Chris Berry writes: The upcoming shows at Gargrave, Reeth, Muker, Malhamdale and Kilnsey all have a proud fell racing heritage.

Reeth Show is next Wednesday, and Gary Bastow, organiser since

1982 of the race known as the Great Fremington Edge Fell Race, says: "I'm from Reeth and I've been a fell runner for 35 years. I'm 51 now and I still compete.

"The course is 1 miles and has a 900ft climb. It leads right to the top of Fremington Edge, and the views are fantastic. It's very craggy and is a favourite for many of the top runners."

Gary's best recent finish was third in 2008. The Yorkshire clubs will be looking to wrestle the title back from the hands of the red rose county this year – Rossendale Harriers runners have taken the open-age trophy for the past two years with Brendon Taylor (2009) and Andy Preedy (2008).

Gary adds: "The British Open Fell Runners Association organises 15 championship races every year. Reeth is one of the courses, and this year we will be hosting a junior championship race."

The sport was close to extinction in the 1970s but largely thanks to Yorkshiremen such as Craven-based Roger Ingham, the best race commentator around, it has undergone a revival.

Roger introduced the British Fell Racing Championships. Known for his striking West Riding accent, sense of humour and encyclopaedic knowledge of nearly every runner, he will also be making everyone smile at Kilnsey Show, on August 31.