MARK Horrocks underlined his recent return to form with sixth place in the Shepherd's Skyline Fell Race last Saturday.

In a race of the highest quality headed by English and British Champion Ian Holmes, Clayton Harrier Mark won a tussle with Bowland Fell Runner Steve Sweeney to be the first runner home from our area.

Despite drizzly conditions the race attracted 250 runners, with the field being swelled by friends of Harry Clayton to whom the race was dedicated.

Thirty eight of Harry's team mates at Todmorden ran, with George Ehrhardt the highest finisher in ninth spot.

Horrocks was a regular winner on the fell circuit until work and family commitments curtailed his racing career.

At his best he won consecutive second places in the classic Three Peaks Race in 1998 and 1999 and represented Lancashire.

Over the last few weeks he has shown that he is back on song and even at 38 he still a force to be reckoned with.

At the FRA Relay at Llanberis a fortnight ago he partnered Garry Wilkinson on a leg which included the 2500 ft climb of Moel Eilio and the pair lifted the Clayton team from 10th to fifth. He followed that run by winning the club's Fell Championship at Worsthorne ahead of Wilkinson, Shaun Livesey and Simon Thompson.

Todmorden ladies won the team prize at a muddy Shepherds Skyline which was run over a slightly modified course this year.

Their English Veteran's silver medallist Sue Becconsall was the winning F40 taking third in the ladies race, while Alison Richards in fifth and seventh placed Jane Smith completed the team.

There was a strong presence from the Tod veterans with Jane third F40, Anne Fox-Kelly second F45 and Pat Collier winning the F55's.

Inter club rivalry between Rossendale and Clayton produced an honourable draw in the men's vet classes.

Rossendale Harrier Ken Taylor just pipped Clayton's Jack Holt in the M50 class, but Clayton Harrier Kieran Carr finished clear of Pete Jepson of Rossendale in the over 55's to even the score.

Lawrence Sullivan of Clayton was the winning M65, and there was a Tubthumping victory in the over 40's for Burnley born Boff Whalley from pop band Chumbawamba.

Men: 1 Ian Holmes (Bingley) 40:42, 2 Rob Hope (Pudsey & Bramley) 40:53, 3 Andy Peace (Bingley) 41:01, 6 Mark Horrocks (C) 43:39, 7 Steve Sweeney (Bowland FR) 43:50, 9 George Ehrhardt (T) 44:55, 10 Danny Hope (Achille Ratti) 45:13, 11 Jon Wright (T) 45:18, 16 (1st M40) Boff Whalley (Pudsey & Bramley) 47:34, 20 Steve Clawson (R) 47:53, 21 Adrian Nicholls (Accrington RR) 47:53 Veterans: 22 (2nd M40) Thornton Taylor (R) 48:15, 32 (1st M50) Ken Taylor (R) 48:15, 33 (2nd M50) Jack Holt (C) 49:33, 46 (1st M55) Kieran Carr (C) 51:14, 75 (2nd M55) Pete Jepson (R) 54:01, 125 (1st M65) Lawrence Sullivan (C) 57:53, 144 (3rd M60) Ross Jaques (C) 60:20 Junior: 155 (2nd Junior) Adam Godwin (R) 61:51

Women: 1 (97th overall/1st F45) Sue Ratcliffe (Saddleworth) 56:05, 2 (105th/1st F35) Karen Mather (Saddleworth) 56:44, 3 (109th/1st F40) Sue Becconsall (T) 57:10, 5 (139th) Alison Richards (T) 60:07, 6 (140th) Jean Pearson (C) 60:10, 7 (148th/3rd F40) Jane Smith (T) 60:59, 11th (169th/2nd F45) Anne Fox-Kelly (T) 63:07 Veteran: 245th/1st F55 Pat Collier (T) 94:39 Team: Todmorden (Becconsall, Richards, Smith)

Key: C-Clayton Harriers, R-Rossendale Harriers, T-Todmorden Harriers