Breaks finished the 17.5 miles Holme Moss fell race from Cartworth near Holmfirth in 2 hours and 42 minutes, racking up another podium finish from almost 150 starters.

He came into the finish only four minutes behind the winner, Chris Birchall of Leeds City.

Breaks set off at a moderate pace, soon establishing his position as the leading Calderdale runner. He held sixth place on passing the Holme Moss television mast for the first time.

By Crowden, Adam had moved up a place then, with the leader Birchall making all the front running some distance away, the chasing group of five runners reached the imposing granite cliffs of Laddow Rocks as a closely packed unit.

However, along the paved section of Pennine Way footpath which climbs over the peaty masses of Soldiers Lump and Black Hill, this group made inroads on the lone leader as they found a quicker line through the muddy mire of barren moor.

By the summit of Black Hill, just behind the Holme Moss mast, Breaks had moved strongly into fourth position but found the reserves to gain another place before the finish to take third spot, just 16 seconds behind county runner Dave Watson of the promoting Holmfirth Harriers.

Adam’s clubmate, Luddenden’s Bill Johnson held a top ten place for the whole race, reaching Black Hill in seventh position. He too had the strength to overtake a rival in the final miles to take a fine sixth place in 2 hours 47 minutes in what he later admitted was his career best performance.

With Steven Smithies in 24th place, the Mytholmroyd club took second place in the team competition behind Holmfirth.

Anne Johnson of Luddenden continued her recent run of sparkling form as she placed second among the women in 3 hours and 11 minutes. The 43 year old Reflexologist appears to have shaken off her early season injury niggles as she finished just two places adrift of the leading woman, Helen Berry of Holmfirth Harriers.

Other Calder Valley finishers included Richard Greenwood who placed 25th in 3-05-16, Jonathan Emberton, 31st in 3-12-12, Martin Huddleston, 42nd in 3-19-48.

Johnson added her prize to the winner's award in Tuesday’s Todmorden Harriers promoted Stoodley Pike fell race from Lumbutts. On that occasion, Anne came home over half a minute quicker than second place Alison Richards of Todmorden, in 24 minutes and 20 seconds.