That article is really interesting. Obviously it's impossible to definitively say who's the best ever and we'd all have our preferences for criteria, but given the relative lack of recently set records in these classic races it seems reasonable to suggest that the quality of fields in say the last 20 years is not quite what it was prior to that. As the article says, not very far off at all, but still not quite there.

No doubt Ian Holmes is an absolutely fantastic runner (with unmatched longevity), but would he have taken the Champs in the years when the likes of Billy and Kenny were in their pomp? I doubt it. Kenny Stuart still holds the records for Ennerdale (about as long as it gets) and Wansfell (a pure up down sub 20min lung-buster). Totally amazing.

Joss is my 'best'. I most admire his running philosophy (and his predilection for rock buns and stout).