EVAN Cook and Eric Wilson combined to give Blackburn Harriers first and second in the over 45 class at the Anderton Arms 10K at Fulwood.

Both men finished in the top 10 in a field of over 300 runners, with marathon champion Evan recording 33.55 for fifth making him the top veteran ahead M40 winner Ian MacDonald (Preston).

In the ladies race, Accrington Road Runner Leigh Hargreaves took third spot setting a new PB within touching distance of 40 minutes. She was also second L35. Joan Jackson of Northern Vets was the ladies winner while Droylsden steeplechaser Lee Hurst of Belgrave Harriers won the men's race by nearly two minutes.

Two local clubs were out in force, Blackburn Road Runners had 15 entrants and Darwen Dashers 14. Pride of the Road Runners were John Mitchell (second M55) and Freda Southworth (second L55). For the Dashers, the race was the first in the President's Challenge Trophy, a short series of five races which ends in December. Gary Taylor (13th) was their highest finisher with Linda Clarkson and Barry Shackleton top lady and veteran respectively.

Another Dasher, 15-year-old Chris Platt took victory in the fun run with a time of 8.50. Chris' father Mike is a regular competitor propelling himself around courses with remarkable speed and agility despite his enforced use of crutches. He completed the full 10K distance and as usual several able bodied athletes were left in his wake. West Pennine Runners returned to home ground after their recent travels, with veteran Neil Holding (18th) striking top form and Sheila Fogg finishing second L45. Mark Schooling, the only Chorley Harrier in the race, was 11th. Clayton M45 Peter Butterworth was 20th and his team-mate Val Lawson won the L55 division. Carole Kay of Blackburn Harriers was third L45 and a former Harrier Bill Atkinson (Northern Vets) was third M60.

Race organiser Steve Ashcroft was overwhelmed as race entries nearly doubled this year. He estimates that up to £1,500 has been raised for the Children of Chernobyl. Some of the money will be used to send a team to Belarus in April to renovate an orphanage and to dispense medical aid to hospitals. The charity also arranges for children to holiday in Lancashire. Children in the shadow of Chernobyl have a tendency to contract leukaemia, and a month away is said to give them two years protection.

Results - Men: 1 Lee Hurst (Belgrave) 31.09, 2 Jason Parker (Preston) 32.54, 3 Mark Crook (N Fylde) 33.29, 5 (first M45) Evan Cook (Blackburn Harriers) 33.55, 10 (second M45) Eric Wilson (Blackburn Harriers) 35.01.

Ladies: 1 (first L40) Joan Jackson (Northern Vets) 3.48, 2 (first L35) Philippa Walsh (Preston Harriers) 39.14, 3 (second L35) Leigh Hargreaves (Accrington RR) 40.15.

Other East Lancs - Chorley Harriers: 11 Mark Schooling 35.12.

Darwen Dashers: 13 Gary Taylor 35.47, 39 Barry Shackleton 3836, 48 Roy Ashcroft 39.24, 65 Shane Gudgeon 40.21, 72 Gary Mitchell 41.16, 82 John Sirkett 41.48, 101 Simon Fox 43.17, 129 Dave Shorrock 44.29, 154 Brian Tull 46.04, 227 Linda Clarkson 52.04, 255 Julia Rushton 55.01, 269 Jo Sirkett 56.54, 270 Bernie Huxley 57.08, 298 Mike Platt 63.34.

West Pennine: 18 Neil Holding 36.16, 128 William Fogg 44.28, 190 (second L45) Sheila Fogg 48.57, 226 Peter Demaine 52.00, 243 Ken Sibbering 53.18, 249 Neil Staff 54.16, 250 Granville Staff 54.17. Clayton: 20 Peter Butterworth 36.43, 67 Robert Moyle 40.59, 115 Doug Brown 43.58, 157 Keith Makinson 46.18, 167 M Pearson 47.20, 237 (first L55) Val Lawson 52.49.

Blackburn RR: 76 Fran Finnerty 41.28 (second M55), John mItchell 42.32, 102 Tony Martin 43.20, 104 Mick Chimejczuk 43.24, 152 Ron Smith 45.50, 158 John Schofield 46.20, 188 Adrian Batson 48.51, 197 Elaine Kempt 49.19. 220 Heidi Kettle 51.14, 240 (third L45) Madeline Haworth 52.58, 246 Cathy Jefferies 54.05, 248 (second L55) Freda Southworth 54.11, 264 Julie Miller-Crook 57.30, 265 Dougie Joss 57.31, 279 Kathy Kumar 58.03.

Blackburn Harriers: 80 Peter Lovick 41.44, 196 Carole Kay 49.18, 206 Ian Kay 50.18.

Northern Vets: 81 (third M60) Bill Arkinson 41.45.

Chorley: 98 John Swift 43.10, 116 Adrian Fairhurst 43.59, 125 Nathan Lawton 44.20, 136 Anthony Llloyd 44.58, 142 Terry Dickenson 45.17, 194 Stuart Swann 49.12, 195 Jan Mayor 49.16.

Accrington RR: 53 David Sutcliffe 39.35, 155 Gill Craske 46.05, 159 Harry Haseley 46.25.

Fun Run: 1 Chris Platt 8.50, 69 William Fox (Darwen Dashers) 15.35.

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