WHO was the first man to run a mile in four minutes?

The surprising answer is Derek Ibbotson in 1958. It is true Roger Bannister had run a sub-four time back in 1954, but Ibbotson was the first to log exactly four minutes.

The Yorkshireman's achievements will not be confined to this footnote of athletics history though, he was one of the greats of a golden era of middle distance running in the 50s and early 60s.

This week he celebrated his 70th birthday, and to mark the occasion race organiser Andy O'Sullivan held an event at Rossendale in his honour.

More than 50 athletes ran over a scenic multi-terrain course around Cowm Reservoir at Whitworth.

From Last of the Summer Wine country, Derek is a life member of Huddersfield club Longwood.

He caused a sensation in 1956 when he won the Olympic trial over 1,500m (the metric mile) in front of 46,000 spectators at the White City Stadium.

However, the British Captain Ian Boyd was chosen instead and Ibbotson was selected for the 5,000 metres.

He won the bronze medal at the Melbourne Games that year, but returned to the mile afterwards.

In June 1957, he attempted to break the world record at the Glasgow Police Sports to celebrate the birth of his daughter, but he fell just three tenths short with 3mins 58.4secs. A month later he made the record his own beating the mark set by Ireland's John Landy - perhaps making a point as Landy had won the 1956 Olympic 1,500m.

At the London New York meeting at White City on July 19 he stopped the clock at 3:57.2. These were the days of the true amateurs. Fosters, who later became Reebok sent him two pairs of spikes for his record attempt, then after the record was achieved they sent him a bill! It is entirely appropriate that Derek should cross the border to celebrate his birthday in Lancashire, as he was a frequent racer in this area.

In the early 60s the Witton Park track in Blackburn was one of the fastest in the country and every Northern record except 5,000m had at one time been broken there.

Derek and his Longwood team were invited over to try and break the four minute barrier in 1963.

Unfortunately the pacemaker was too slow but Derek came back time and again to race and to hold coaching sessions for local athletes.

George Kirby, then the athletics correspondent for this newspaper, was responsible for the promotions that regularly attracted 7,000 spectators. Crowds of 1,000 would come just to watch Derek train!

The race at Cowm was won by one of the outstanding veterans in the country.

Roger Brewster of Clayton Harriers last year ran the third fastest half marathon by an Over 45 in the country - 1hr 10mins 45secs at Freckleton - and here over a 4.2 mile course he galloped round in 23mins 15secs.

Paul Brannon made it a Clayton one-two, winning the M40 class in 23:42 with Paul Targett in fourth in 24:06.

Kath Drake of Spenborough took the women's title from Rossendale Harrier Vanessa Hamlet while 13-year-old Anthony Hayes of Darwen Dashers was 13th in 27:52. Peter Dibb from Clitheroe, who represents Derek Ibbotson's Longwood club, was the winning Over 65.