NOBODY is more familiar with the old saying "there's no gain without pain" than Ray Moulding of Blackburn Road Runners.

The club held it's Presentation Evening at the Dressers Arms, Wheelton recently and 70-year-old Ray won the Road Race Championship after overcoming a bad fall in his last race.

It was at the Guys 10M at Garstang in December where he went crashing 200 yards from the line. Instinctively he jumped up to finish in 77:42 before being taken to hospital with a snapped tendon in his hand.

His win in the age adjusted championship was the only title which changed hands this year.

Norma Smith, who celebrated her 55th birthday during the year, successfully defended the equivalent women's title while the winners without age adjustment were Mick Nester and Sandra Snape.

John Brighouse and Debbie Rudland were voted the most improved athletes, the latter after running three marathons and reducing her PB by over an hour.

A Special Award was presented to Anne Harwood who competed in the World Triathlon Championship in Edmonton making her the club's first international and Runner of the Year was John Schofield for his organisation of the Blackburn Duathlon and the Witton Park Trail Races.

Twenty two athletes received certificates for achieving standard times over distances from five miles up to marathon with three of them - Norma Smith, Mick Chimecjzuk and Maureen Wilcock - winning badges after beating their targets at four distances. Norma reached the diamond standard to earn the club's highest award.

Road Championship: Men (Fastest): 1st Mick Nester; 2nd Bernie Johnson; 3rd Fran Finnerty Men (Best): 1st Ray Moulding; 2nd Mick Nester; 3rd John Mitchell Women (Fastest): 1st Sandra Snape; 2nd Michelle Holden; 3rd Brenda Fullard Women (Best): 1st Norma Smith; 2nd Anne Harwood; 3rd Sandra Snape Improvers of the Year: John Brighouse; Debbie Rudland Special Award: Anne Harwood Club Runner of the Year: John Schofield Standard Award Winners: Lorraine Bray; John Brighouse; Alison Bury; Mick Chimecjzuk; Kathy Clarke; Mike Corrigan; Hyacinthe Gillot; Dave Hammer; Anne Harwood; Cathy Jefferies; Kathy Kumar; Tony Martin; Ray Moulding; John Mitchell; Liona Riding; Debbie Rudland; Anne Smith; Norma Smith; David Swift; Irene Sziler; Maureen Wilcock; Rob Wynne