THE Ben Nevis Fell Race is a classic. The ten mile route, with 4400 feet of climbing (and descending) presents the runner with the highest single climb in British fell running. The race attracts a top class entry and reaches its limit long before the day, so it is a preliminary achievement to actually enter.

Radcliffe's Mike Howard and Arthur Warren got in and ran up the mountain last weekend, both coming back to Radcliffe with tales of a good job well done. Mike was 130th after 2 hours 6 mins 34 secs of hard graft and Arthur came back with a personal best of 2.21.16. He's done the race before and this effort showed that he is in decent form at the moment.

Meanwhile, most of the rest of Radcliffe AC were pursuing the club's road race championship at the Rufford 10k, near Ormskirk. Adrian Harris got in a battle royle with Danny Appleby, Adrian establishing a slender five seconds advantage as he took 19th place, and became 5th over-45 in 36.36. Tony Holt was next in 59th in 40.43.

Dave Agnew has established himself in a good position among the club's 50; he took 75th place, 6th over 50 in 42.06. This kept him ahead of Alec Steele. A pretty good effort, as Alec wound up 84th in 42.23.

In at 94th was Steve Hamer in 43.17, then Alan Sumner in 108th and 9th o/55. Carly Hancock was Radcliffe's leading lady, finishing in 114th place (45.17) to hold off Gerry Dewhurst, 120th in 46.10.

Colin McDonagh was 123rd in 46.22, on a day when, in warm pleasant conditions, everyone found if difficult to get going, without any obvious reason. Tom West took 145th and was 5th over 60, in 49.09. Not a bad return from a guy in his 60's. A cluster of Radcliffe runners made up the club's contingent. Linda McDonagh 155th 50.40; Ian Harris 156th 51.00; John Hall 158th 51.21 and Eileen Royle 160th but winning the ladies over 55 category in 51.39, an excellent result.

At 167th came Glenda Garry, 10th lady over 40; then Sarah Hopkins 168th and 6th in the over 35 category and Tony McGlynn 169th in 54.34 rounding off another good display from the club.