A FASCINATING contest between Paul Thompson and Will Sullivan was resolved on the final descent from Darwen's Jubilee Tower in the Challenge of the Hills Fell Race.

An unusual format which combined the mass start of a fell race with an orienteering event ensured that the result would be in doubt until the final stages, but when the two leaders checked in together at the tower it was all down to the final sprint.

Both men are Clayton Harriers, but with Paul living in Darwen, and regularly training over the route, he would have started as favourite.

To redress the balance, Will had arrived early on race day and had run around the five mile course to plan his strategy.

The start and finish was at the Sunnyhurst pub - with the first and last checkpoints at the Jubilee Tower - but the other checkpoints at Aggies Staircase, the top of Bold Venture Park and the Finger Post could be tackled in any order.

While some runners followed the paths at all times, others took compass bearings to follow a direct line.

Having run their own races, Thompson and Sullivan came together in the latter stages, by now four minutes clear of Garry Taylor with fellow Darwen Dasher Dougie Aspden a further two and a half minutes back.

Will tried to break clear knowing that fell specialist Paul was the better downhill runner, but it was to no avail as Thompson galloped away on the descent to win by 12 seconds.

In fifth place the veteran title went to an athlete in his sixties, Don Ashton, a Darwen man representing the Northern Vets Club, while Ray Moulding of Blackburn Road Runners was 18th at the age of 70.

The Blackburn club also swept the board in the ladies race with F50 Eileen Peat taking the title from Lynda Mason and Irene Sziler.

The race organisers Barbara Hoyle and Matt Donnelly of Darwen Masters Swimming Club donated the proceeds to The Bolton Mountain Rescue who were in attendance on the day.

The next event to be promoted by the team is the Darwen Biathlon (swim and run) on the last Sunday in November.

Entry forms will be available within a week from Matt who can be contacted on 01254-608888.

Results:

Men: 1 Paul Thompson (C) 43:17, 2 Will Sullivan (C) 43:29, 3 Garry Taylor (D) 47:31, 4 Dougie Aspden (D) 50:04, 5 (1st M60) Don Ashton (N Vets) 50:36, 6 Paul Targett (C) 51:06, 7 Pete Ellwood (Bolton Mountain Rescue) 55:40, 8 Nev Rickard (DD) 57:18, 9 (1st M40) Ged Johnson (Darwen Masters) 57:19, 10 (2nd M40) Pete James (West Pennine) 57:27, 12 (1st M50) George Thompson (C) 58:18, 18 (1st M70) Ray Moulding (BRR) 64:49

Women: 1 (1st F50) Eileen Peat (BRR) 76:39, 2 (1st F45) Lynda Mason (BRR) 83:43, 3 (1st F40) Irene Sziler (BRR) 83:49, 4 (2nd F40) Bernie Huxley (DD) 109:40