BEN Fish has enjoyed a wonderful year on the track and the road, but on Sunday he showed that he can also shine on the fells as he finished first junior in the David Staff Memorial Race.

The route of Darwen Dashers' flagship event takes the runners on a climb to the Jubilee Tower, the landmark which the club has adopted as its logo.

The race is growing in stature year by year, and on a still and sunny morning it attracted more than 190 entries this time, including five members of the Emmerdale cast.

Neil Tattersall from Pendle AC led the runners out through Sunnyhurst Woods after a typically aggressive start with local hero Richard Thomas from Darwen Dashers hard on his heels.

Thomas is on the recovery trail after suffering two sprained ankles and the Welsh International didn't expect to feature.

He was to slip back to seventh, but Tattersall was strong throughout as befits a man who has recently represented the North of England over the country.

By the time they had climbed Darwen Hill and toured the West Pennine Moors, last year's winner Steve Oldfield, from Bradford, had moved to the fore and he was being tracked by Altrincham's Nick Leigh.

As they re-entered the woods for the last half mile veteran Oldfield was still ahead by a stride, but the rangy Leigh made his move to pull clear.

Meanwhile, Blackburn Harrier Fish had moved through to take third with Tattersall fourth.

Five local clubs were represented in the top ten with Accrington Road Runner Adrian Nicholls taking ninth and Shane Fitzpatrick of Hyndburn tenth.

Chorley Harrier Pete Gillham was first over 55, and Ross Jaques took the over 60 title for Clayton Harriers.

The winners received their prizes from the Emmerdale stars who entered fully into the informal spirit of the day.

Veteran Kath Drake, a regular racer in East Lancs, came over from Spenborough to take the ladies title, while former Lancashire fell champion Debbie Gowans from Accrington Road Runners was the first local in fourth spot.

Dashers Zoe Braithwaite and Linda Clarkson battled all the way to the line before Zoe clinched fifth.

Rossendale Harriers monopolised the veteran categories with Diane Flemming, Jean Rawlinson and Christine Navan winning the F45, F50 and F55 sections. Ladies over 60 winner Marina Chadwick ran with husband Ray as the couple celebrated their 43rd wedding anniversary.

BEN Fish is hoping to become Blackburn Harriers' fourth export to Troy State University in Alabama next year.

Recently he took a trip with fellow Harrier Scott Monk to visit twins Rob and Liam Barton who started a four year course in Leisure Management in September. He has already signed a letter of intent with the University but still has to sit the entrance exam. Although there are two intakes a year, ideally he would like another track season here before going to TSU in the autumn.

The club's link with the college was forged by post graduate Michael Green who went out there five years ago.

Men: 1 Nick Leigh (Altrincham) 33:34, 2 (1st M40) Steve Oldfield (Bradford) 33:46, 3 (1st Junior) Ben Fish (Blackburn Harriers) 33:57, 4 Neil Tattersall (Pendle) 34:29, 7 Richard Thomas (Darwen Dashers) 35:25, 9 Adrian Nicholls (Accrington RR) 36:01, 10 Shane Fitzpatrick (Hyndburn) 36:10, 12 John Wieczorek (Accrington RR) 36:45, 15 Andy Smith (Darwen Dashers) 37:24, 16 (3rd M40) Neil Holding (West Pennine) 37:28, 18 (4th M40) Alan Alty (Chorley Harriers) 38:07, 20 Paul Guinan (Blackburn Harriers) 38:16, 22 Matt Nuttall (Darwen SC) 38:26, 23 Nick Riding (u/a) 38:52, 24 Brent Hoggan (Accrington RR) 39:05

Women: 1 (50th overall/1st F40) Kath Drake (Spenborough) 41:59, 2 (52nd) Vicky Lawrence (Blackpoool) 42:12, 3(59th) Gill Bacon (Wigan Phoenix) 42:57, 4 (66th) Debbie Gowans (Accrington RR) 43:45, 5 (76th) Zoe Braithwaite (Darwen Dashers) 44:57, 6 (77th) Linda Clarkson (Darwen Dashers) 45:01, 8 (86th/1st F45) Diane Flemming (Rossendale) 46:12, 9 (89th) Marion Dunn (West Pennine) 46:35

Club Runners (Good for Age): Accrington RR: 27 (M40) Geoff Biscomb 39:52, 136 (F) Gill Craske 53:03 Blackburn Harriers: 154 (2nd F45) Carole Kay 57:46 Blackburn Road Runners: 161 (2nd F55) Norma Smith 61:23, 162 (2nd F50) Eileen Peat 61:47 Chorley Harriers: 56 (1st M55) Pete Gillham 42:36, 129 (2nd F40) Janet Chaplin 52:04 Clayton Harriers: 26 (2nd M45) John Singleton 39:43, 30 (M45) Ian Robinson 40:11, 32 (M) Derek Ashcroft 40:22, 84 (1st M60) Ross Jaques 46:00, 108 (M55) Tom Targett 48:28, 130 (M55) Jim Whalley 52:09 Darwen Dashers: 29 (M) Dougie Aspden 40:07, 34 (M40) Vince Brookes 40:36, 44 (M45) Eric Wilson 41:15, 111 (M50) Dave Shorrock 49:21, 146 (F40) Sue Taylor 56:32, 138 (2nd F60) Maureen Roberts 1:15:48 Northern Vets: 186 (1st F60) Marina Chadwick 74:00 Pendle AC: 31 (2nd Junior) Lee Leishman 40:21 Red Rose RR: 28 (3rd M45) Fred Lynch 39:58 Rossendale Harriers: 36 (2nd M50) Barry Rawlinson 40:49, 102 (1st F50) Jean Rawlinson 48:03, 147 (1st F55) Christine Navan 56:33 SE Lancs Orienteering Club: 128 (M55) Eric Riddall 51:51 West Pennine Runners: 60 (M45) Pete James 43:16, 85 (M45) Barry Nicholson 46:11

Emmerdale Actors: 71 (M40) Antony Audenshaw 44:27, 140 (F) Helen Turton 53:34, 144 (M50) Chris Chittell 56:03, 176 (F) Emma Atkins 69:35, 177 (M) Geoff Hornsby 69:35