RUNNING legend Ron Hill is chasing an ambition to race in 100 countries by the time he is 70.

After adding eight new countries this year to reach 73, he still found time to run in Rochdale last week.

Andy O'Sullivan had organised a race to celebrate Ron's 63rd birthday and both Ron and his son Graham were there to mark the occasion.

Graham is a previous winner of the event, but this time Blackpool's prolific veteran Paul Muller relegated him to second.

This year Clayton Harrier Ron has raced in Oman, Israel, Algeria, Chile, Lithuania, Australia, Colombia and the Cayman Islands, but he acknowledges that racing in some parts of the world will become more difficult after the recent terrorist attacks.

His own plans were disrupted by the events of September 11 as he was in transit from Colombia to the Cayman Islands and was stranded in Panama City for four days.

Nevertheless many countries he hopes to visit are still accessible including those in Eastern Europe, the Caribbean and South America.

Currently Ron is writing a book with Neil Shuttleworth called 'Manchester Marathons', charting the history of Marathons in the City dating back to 1908 covering over 30 races.

At the moment they have only written the first chapter, but they will be working hard on it over the coming months so that it can be marketed ahead of the Commonwealth Games which comes to the city next year.

Ron says he prefers the local low key races to the big city events, and Andy's races in the Rochdale area fit the bill nicely with their informal and friendly atmosphere. This one raised another £140 for the Springhill Hospice.

Results - Men: 1 (1st M40) Paul Muller (Wrekin RR) 22:33, 2 Graham Hill (Stockport) 22:51, 5 Lee Passco (C) 24:28, 7 (1st Junior) Lee Leishman (Pendle) 25:41, 8 (3rd M40) Alan Clarkson (C) 25:41, 23 (1st M45) Andy O 5/8Sullivan (Rochdale) 29:00, 25 (1st M65) Peter Dibb (Longwood) 29:33, 32 (1st M55) Gerard Navan (R) 31:00, 37 (3rd M60) Ron Hill (C) 31:33, 43 (M50) Jim Taylor (Darwen Dashers) 32:40, 46 (M40) J Maguire (C) 33:44

Women: 1 (15th overall/1st F40) Kath Drake (Spenborough) 26:42, 2 (27th/1st F35) Tina Lewis (C) 29:54, 3 (30th/1st F45) Diane Fleming (R) 30:21, 5 (36th) Vanessa Hamlet (R) 31:33, 9 (49th/1st Junior) Nicola Leishman (Pendle) 34:24, 12 (1st F55) Christine Navan (R) 36:39