GRAHAM Schofield was the winning over 45 veteran in last Sunday's Walsh Winter Hill Fell Race - but his result still brought to an end an amazing record.

The 1996 British Veteran Fell Champion from Darwen was celebrating his 21st consecutive appearance in the race organised by his own club, Horwich RMI Harriers. Twice he has been the winner of the 11-miler and until this year he had never finished outside the top ten. As recently as last year he was second.

This year, conditions were very good and suited the speed merchants. The winning time was seven minutes faster than 12 months ago and only one veteran made it into the top ten.

No doubt Schofield would have preferred the heavy mists of 2001 when his unique knowledge of the terrain almost brought him a third victory, but instead he had to settle for 15th place in 1:42:33.

Yorkshire club Pudsey and Bramley invaded Rivington for the day and had six of the top ten finishers. First home was adopted Lancastrian Rob Hope whose time of 1:33:38 was a new course record by 22 seconds.

Hope, who now lives within spitting distance of the course, has been in superb form recently with victory in December's David Staff Race in Darwen proving to be a pointer as subsequently he won the silver medal in the Lancashire Cross Country Championship.

Horwich Harrier Brendan Bolland was nearly two minutes in arrears, but succeeded in splitting the Hope brothers as Danny finished third.

First from our local clubs was distance specialist Paul Thompson from Clayton Harriers, taking fifth in 1:36:15 while Blackburn Harrier Matt Nuttall was tenth in 1:38:25. Rossendale Harriers nominated the event as the first in the club's 2004 Fell Championship and Derek Schofield impressed by winning the over 50 class in 1:53:15.

Thornton Taylor was Dale's first counter in 21st with Steve Clawson hot on his heels in 25th. The club lost out on third place in the team standings by a single point to arch-rivals Clayton. Kieran Carr was the winning over 55 in 1:51:49 and John Nuttall took over 60 honours in 2:08:36.

Chorley Harriers women are becoming a common sight on the fells, and they captured the team prize thanks to daughter and mother Dawn and Jan Atkins. Dawn was the highest placed local taking fourth in 2:09:59 while eighth placed Jan won the over 55 class as she finished only 15 seconds behind F50 winner Katy Thompson of Clayton. Third Chorley counter was Anna Marie Crabtree.