SARAH Scarrott was the winning woman in Sunday's Accrington 10K Road Race after leading from gun to tape.

The 29-year-old Chorley Harrier won with ease setting a personal best time of 38:57 on a day when none of her opponents could crack 40 minutes.

The course is not really conducive to fast times even though the first half of the race is nearly all downhill, because the price to pay is a two-mile slog back up Whinney Hill.

It certainly helps to know the circuit and it was very familiar ground for veterinary Scarrott, who was stationed at the nearby Dunkenhalgh Hotel for six months in 2001 when she was helping to contain the foot and mouth epidemic.

Five of the top seven women were veterans with third placed Anna Kelly winning the F40 class for Clayton Harriers in 42:07 and seventh placed Sue Corsini taking second F35 in 43:50 for Darwen Dashers.

The Dashers failed to make it four successive team titles though as the host club Accrington Road Runners celebrated with Nicola Wood in eighth, Donna Beardmore ninth and Sarah Clarke 20th.

Chorley Harriers made it a one-two as Keith Johnson took the runners up spot in the men's race in 33:27 behind Border Harrier Stephen Murdoch.

Even so it was a mixed day for Johnson who saw Gareth Booth all but clinch the Harriers Grand Prix at the Snowdonia Marathon. Keith must now run a marathon before December to stay in contention.

Behind him came four more locals, Craig Wolfenden of Rossendale, Andrew Stubbs from Clayton, Hyndburn's Lee Passco and 1999 winner Aaron Hargreaves, now back with Pendle.

Another former winner is Graham Collinge, who won the first ever Accrington 10K 17 years ago. At his best a sub 30-minute man for the distance, the Accrington Road Runner is back in full flow after a long spell of illness and injury winning the over 45 age group with eighth outright in 35:00.

With nine different clubs represented in the top ten the team prize was closely contested with Clayton Harriers winning out with Stubbs, Paul Targett and John Roche.

Last year's team winners Blackburn Harriers did not feature this time, but still fielded both junior winners Toby Banfield, who just beat Richard Stones, and Sophie Croxson.

With 301 entries, this was the biggest field for ten years. Club spokesman Harry Haseley labelled the event "a huge success" and revealed that there has already been a call from some club members for the springtime Hyndburn 10K to be revived.