THE winner of the Pendle and Burnley Grand Prix was settled in dramatic fashion in the penultimate race of the series.

The 20th running of the Trawden 7 miles race proved one race too many for leading Grand Prix runner Andy Stubbs.

Andy, a PE teacher at St Theodore's School in Burnley, had led for several weeks and had completed all previous nine races before he had to pull up on the Trawden 7 with a leg injury.

Series co-ordinator Gerry McCabe said: "It was a very sad sight watching him limp home."

Andy's bad luck allowed Clayton team mate John Tomlinson to take over at he head of the leader board when the veteran finished in second place behind Trawden's own David Walker who won his village race for the second year running.

The only record to go on a warm and humid night came from Clayton's prodigious athlete Jean Rawlinson who took 94 seconds off her own F50 record. Her time of 51.58 was also good enough to shed 45 seconds off the F45 record.

Candice Leah of Trawden AC led home the ladies race following her win at Pendle Hill Challenge the previous week. Fast improving Dany Robson of Clayton was a close second with Andrea Barrowclough, also Clayton, the leading veteran in third.

Tomlinson had been the only athlete to challenge Stubbs seriously, and he cemented his victory in the series with second at the Weets Fell Race at Barnoldswick on Sunday.

Clayton took the top four positions with Simon Thompson winning in 34:47 from leading veteran Tomlinson in 36:04. Roger Brewster took third, and with it M45 honours while Tony Chew was fourth.

Frances Austin clinched the Women's Grand Prix title from Clayton's Christine Leathley, but it was Ripon's Erica Nutter who won on the day. Nutter logged 41:40 while veteran winner Jean Rawlinson came home in 45:52.

The Weets Fell Race will be a true fell race next season and will become an evening race held in June.

It is unlikely to remain part of the Grand Prix, but while races come and go, Clayton Harrier Jack Maguire remains a fixture. Jack has completed in every single Grand Prix race since its inception in 1986.

THE Presentation Night for the Pendle and Burnley Grand Prix is on Friday 30 August at Barrowford Civic Centre. Proceedings start at 8pm with the presentation of awards at 9pm. Tickets are not required.