GPS in fell races

[DrPatrickBarry]

I have to disagree - for me fell races are about mountaincraft

I don't think anybody is disagreeing with you. The consensus seems to be that the combination of speed and good route knowledge is required to be competitive in a race. Whatever exchanging of places lower down the field due to somebody using a GPX will be of less importance.

Where is the mountaincraft in following somebody you know is good (for instance Nicky Spinks) in The Trigger.
Does a lakes based runner have better mountaincraft than somebody from London, just becasue it is massively easier to get out reccing a route more?