JASON Harbour and Linda Clarkson might not have been able to match Paula Radcliffe for pace in the London Marathon but they scooped their own slice of glory on Sunday.

Clayton Harriers athlete Harbour and Clarkson from Darwen Dashers headed the finishers from the East Lancashire clubs as around 100 club runners from the region swelled the field.

Jason, who three years ago injured an ankle in the British Fell Running Relays and limped to the finish before being air-lifted to hospital, was at his dogged best on Sunday.

In fact, he had to fight back to catch team mate Andy Stubbs, who was leading Harbour until the latter stagers before fading.

However, he was one of four Clayton men to smash the 2:50 barrier, Peter Butterworth and Graham Cunliffe being the others.

Blackburn Road Runner Mick Nester kept company while four more local clubs were represented by sub three hour men, Jon Wright (Todmorden), Rob Wynne (Bowland Fell Runners), Eric Wilson (Darwen Dashers) and Phil Taylor (Rossendale).

Clarkson started with the elite women after her 3:11 in Manchester, and she managed to trim a few seconds more off her personal best on Sunday.

Louise Cooper, still a Harrier but now in the colours of Belgrave rather than Rossendale, clocked 3:07, while Gale Evans and Donna Beardmore also beat 3:30.

Former Blackburn Road Runner Chris Haymes completed his second marathon in consecutive weeks, following a PB 3:30 at Paris with 3:38 in London.

Rossendale husband and wife Phil and Karen Taylor are London regulars and are a formidable couple with 44-year-old Phil returning 2:55 despite a sore throat and Karen, 45, running 3:30.

Veterans often thrive over the longer distances, none more than Clayton Harrier Kitty Garnett, now 65, who completed the course in an astonishing 4:29. Consistent Norma Smith of Blackburn Road Runners ran 4:14 at 56, while Alison Hope (52) finished in 4:23 for Accrington Road Runners.

For the men, Mick Green (Clayton), David Schofield (Rossendale), Geoff Biscomb (Accrington RR) and Graham Schofield (Chorley Harriers) all delivered a blow for experience.

Elite Men sub 3 hours 10 mins: 176 Jason Harbour (Clay) 2:42:45, Mick Nester (Blackburn RR) 2:46:13, Peter Butterworth (Clay) 2:46:34, Graham Cunliffe (Clay) 2:48:53, Andrew Stubbs (Clay) 2:49:49, Jon Wright (Tod) 2:52:15, Rob Wynne (Bowland FR) 2:54:13, Eric Wilson (Darwen) 2:54:15, Phil Taylor (Ross) 2:55:29, Mick Green (Clay) 3:03:33, Brent Hoggan (Acc RR) 3:07:40, David Schofield (Ross) 3:07:44, Michael Hunt (Pendle) 3:08:16, Robert Pink (Ross) 3:09:02

Elite Women sub 3 hours 50 mins: Louise Cooper (Belgrave) 3:07:58, Linda Clarkson (Darwen) 3:11:20, Gale Evans (Red Rose) 3:23:57, Donna Beardmore (Acc RR) 3:28:39, Karen Taylor (Ross) 3:30:43, Julia Hartley (Acc RR) 3:31:28, 844 (F35) Lorraine Bray (Blackburn RR) 3:47:31

Accrington RR: Geoff Biscomb 3:11:22, Mark Smith 3:23:46, Jimmy Smithson 3:42:02, Paul Jackson 3:56:38, Nicola Wood 3:56:41, Dave Mallaby 4:10:52, Malcolm Bradley 4:16:51, Colin Goodwin 4:18:25, Alison Hope 4:23:47, Kim Lowes 4:24:07, Sue Preugschat 4:35:20, Karen Jackson 4:59:59, Dave Heppenstall 5:02:54, Geoff Snape 5:10, Lindsey Dixon 6:00.

Blackburn RR: Mark Roberts 3:23:21, Mark Hobin 3:36:01, Chris Haymes (former BRR) 3:38:17, John Brighouse 3:55:20, Norma Smith 4:14:18, Simon Hughes 4:38:45, Irene Sziler 4:51:26, Elaine Kemp 4:51:26 Bowland FR: Mark Chippendale 3:22:24 Chorley Harriers: Ian Crabtree 3:12:50, Steve Holden 3:13:23, Graham Schofield 3:18:48, Andy Norris 3:30:53, Paul Swindells 4:16:54, Linzi Brussels 4:23:08, Eddie Pugh 4:23:09.

Clayton Harriers: David Lord 3:13:50, John Rutter 3:19:45, Ian Burrows 3:23:40, Jon Sharples 3:48:42, om Pate 4:22:43, Kitty Garnett 4:29:03.

Darwen Dashers: Neil Cooper 3:21:35, Jim Taylor 4:54:36, Alison James 5:11:56.

Red Rose RR: Andrew Gilbert 3:10:03, Peter Nickson 3:21:51, Lee Barlow 3:25:39, Shane Cliffe 3:26:57, Steve Coey 3:52:34, Allan Howard 4:29:44, George Fletcher 4:39:35.

Rossendale Harriers: Nigel Gotts 3:13:02, Terry Gotts 3:47:35,Colette Schofield 4:38:15.

West Pennine: Neil Holding 3:14:29 Unattached: Nigel Walton (Blackburn) 3:56:58, Michele Gerard (Blackburn) 4:50:15, George Walsh (Blackburn) 4:54:36, John Ivers (Blackburn) 4:54:36, Susan Lewellin (Clitheroe) 5:47:08, Miriam Smith (Blackburn) 5:58:52, Sonia Dunn (Great Harwood) 6:00.