ANDY Black of Clayton won the Pendle Hill Challenge on a scorching Wednesday evening to maintain a winning tradition for the men in gold and white.

The race boasts one of the quickest first miles in road running, as the runners fly down from the Wellsprings to Sabden -- and one of the slowest last miles as they have to retrace their steps.

However, neither the weather nor the terrain slowed Black who won by a clear minute.

Behind him runners from three different clubs filled the top positions.

Todmorden Harriers featured the event in their Club Championship Grand Prix and series leader Paul Brannigan consolidated his position with second place, leading the race through half way until Black made his push.

Another half minute down the road, a threesome were disputing third with Bowland Fell Runner Steve Sweeney arriving at the finish ahead of Jon Wright of Todmorden and the leading veteran Ian White of Clayton-Le-Moors.

Todmorden were also in the frame in the ladies race where Sue Becconsall, the English Veteran Fell Championship silver medallist, was going well.

Spenborough's Kath Drake, denied her fifth win by Vanessa Peacock last year, was not going to be beaten again though.

Both girls finished in the top 20 as their battle took them clear of the others.

Jean Rawlinson representing Rossendale Harriers won another close contest with Clayton Harrier Christine Leathley for over 50 honours, while for the men three senior Clayton Harriers were winners, M45 John Singleton, M55 Barry Mitchell and M60 Ted Orrell.

Local man Peter Dibb from Clitheroe took the M65 prize, while Graham Smith was 1st M50.

In the second year since the race was revived entries were up over 50 per cent, and a slot in next year's Pendle and Burnley Grand Prix should assure it's continued success.

Results: - (Clayton unless stated) Key: A-Accrington, T-Todmorden,

Men: 1 Andrew Black 48:09, 2 Paul Brannigan (T) 49:12, 3 Steve Sweeney (Bowland Fell Runners) 49:41, 4 Jon Wright (T) 49:49, 5 (1st M40) Ian White 49:55, 6 Mark Horrocks 51:20, 7 Philip Atherton 52:05, 8 (1st M50) Graham Smith (u/a) 52:49, 9 (1st M45) John Singleton 53:04, 10 (2nd M40) Mervyn Owen (A) 53:50, 11 Brent Hoggan (A) 53:56, 12 Gordon Barrett (u/a) 54:52, 13 (3rd M40) David Gaskill (A) 55:14, 14 (1st M55) Barry Mitchell 55:37, 16 (2nd M45) Stephen White 56:07, 18 (M40) Geoff Biscomb (A) 56:28, 19 (3rd M45) Keith Parkinson (T) 56:49, 20 (M45) Jeffrey Pickup 56:59, 21 (M45) Dave Collins (T) 57:06, 22 (M45) David Rawlinson 57:59, 23 (2nd M50) Harry Walker 58:09, 25 (1st M60) Ted Orrell 58:46, 27 (2nd M55) Richard Blakeley (T) 59:39, 28 (2nd M60) Ross Jaques 59:49, 40 (3rd M50) Bohuslav Barlow (T) 63:31, 43 (1st M65) Peter Dibb (Longwood) 65:14, 46 (3rd M55) Peter Ehrhardt (T) 65:55, 47 (M55) John Devlin (T) 66:10, 49 (M55) Doug Munroe 67:04, 54 (M55) Francis Richardson (T) 68:07, 62 (2nd M65) Kenneth Clarke (Northern Vets) 71:58, 71 (3rd M60) Harry Manning 75:23, 76 (3rd M65) Richard Packer (Red Rose) 81:04

Women: 1 (15th overall/1st F40) Kath Drake (Spenborough) 55:43, 2 (17th/2nd F40) Sue Becconsall (T) 56:20, 3 (55th/1st F50) Jean Rawlinson (Rossendale) 68:37, 4 (56th/ 2nd F50) Christine Leathley 69:42, 5 (73rd/3rd F50) Glenys Speak (Northern Vets) 77:32, 6 (75th/1st F35) Mandy Dugdale (u/a) 80:55