EAST Lancashire athletes Vanessa Peacock, Jack Holt and Don Ashton were winners in Yorkshire at the Withins Skyline Fell Race over Penistone Hill.

As a Saturday event, it beat the storms by 24 hours, and was run in good conditions, although it was wet underfoot.

Clayton Harrier Maureen Laney has won medals in this year's English and British Fell Championships and was leading the women, but pulled a calf muscle then turned an ankle forcing her to drop out.

That left a second Clayton veteran Peacock ahead and she retained her advantage to the finish despite the proximity of Bingley Harrier Sharon Taylor.

Peacock's winning time over the seven miles was 54:22, with Taylor 10 seconds in arrears.

It was a day for the veterans with 47-year-old Steve Oldfield, from Bradford, taking the men's title in 44:25.

Oldfield was a worthy winner having been placed second in the World Masters Championships at Innsbruck, but here he used his local knowledge to pick the best route over the tops.

Leading our clubs' challenge was Clayton's Tony Chew, 14th and fourth Over-40 in 48:57, and Rossendale Harrier Steve Clawson, exactly a minute behind in 21st.

Holt was the winning Over-50 for Clayton Harriers clocking 50:41 for 26th spot, while Darwen Dasher Ashton led home the Over-60s with his time of 55:41 being good for 68th overall in a field of 192.

The second highest ever senior entry was complemented by the highest for the junior events. A new Under 8s race was introduced as the FRA now allow runners as young as six to compete

The winning girl was Chloe Chew of Pendle and there was another victory for the club with Steven Dickson first Under 14 Boy.

Two Burnley sisters won first places too, with Alexis Walker winning the Under 14s and Danielle Walker the Under 16s after the 13-year-old England International was given special dispensation to run in the longer event.