DARWENER Brian Cole finished a close second to veteran Steve Oldfield at Aggies Staircase, a four mile fell race which climbs Darwen Hill three times.

Both men have enjoyed success on this hill before, Steve from Bradford and Airedale having placed second at the David Staff Race and Brian winning last week's St Joseph's Tower Race. Third went to Simon Thompson, the first of three Clayton athletes in the top ten, Dave Nuttall was fifth and Andy Payne ninth.

In its 13th year, well over 200 runners completed the race including 36 women. Although in her mid-40's, evergreen Vanessa Peacock of Clayton Harriers won the ladies race by nearly three minutes. Debbie Gowans (Accrington) and Bev McWade (Clayton) closely contested second and third positions with Debbie just shading it by seven seconds.

First under 16 junior was Naomi Biddle of Pendle AC who showed dad Andrew a clean pair of heels. For the boys, Alex McVey of Horwich finished in an impressive sixth position comfortably winning the under 18 class, and Richard Queen of Darwen Dashers was leading under 16 in his first-ever fell race.

Reigning English Fell Champion at M50, Peter McWade of Clayton Harriers won his age group, Blackburn Road Runner Ray Moulding was the leading M65 and Maureen Roberts of Darwen Dashers took L60 honours. To encourage Sport for All, there were prizes for the last five men and women as well as the winners.

Bolton Mountain Rescue were in attendance and were called into action when 14-year-old Brian Finch of Rufford took a tumble. Brian needed to be transferred to BRI to be treated for a head wound. He was released later and was fit enough to attend school the next day.

Runner-up Brian Cole is a member of the newly-formed West Pennine Runners. Only formally affiliated three days earlier, they fielded 14 entrants. Results - Men: 1 Steve Oldfield (Bradford & Airedale) 28.04, 2 Brian Cole (West Pennine Moors) 28.13, 3 Simon Thompson (Clayton) 28.51, 5 Dave Nuttall (Clayton) 29.45, 6 (1st U18) Alex McVey (Horwich) 30.02, 8 Andy Payne (Clayton) 30.23, 9 N Hatchard (Rossendale) 30.35.

Women: 1 (35th) Vanessa Peacock (Clayton) 33.33, 2 (73) Debbie Gowans (Accrington RR) 36.12, 3 (74) Bev McWade (Clayton) 36.19, 6 (107) Jeanette Coleman (Chorley Harriers) 39.33, 7 (113) Lisa Richardson (Blackburn RR) 40.05, 10 Judy Hindle (Clayton) 41.04.

Clayton: 12 Jason Harbour 30.46, 13 Paul Thompson 30.58, 16 (1st M50)Peter McWade 31.14, 22 J Tomlinson 32.26, 23 John Rutter 32.40, 27 (2nd M50) Barry Mitchell 33.08, 34 (1st M45) J Singleton 33.32, 43P Booth 34.25, 65 D Hindle 35.43, 97 G Fletcher 38.37, 102 D Munroe 39.04, 108 T Pate 39.37, 157 Katy Thompson 43.10, 167 John Amos 44.53.

Accrington RR: 14 Mark Theaker 31.00, 17 Dave Naughton 31.41, 82 Tony Bolton 37.11, 146 M McDonald 42.31.

Darwen Dashers: 15 Gary Taylor 31.06, 20 Nev Rickard 32.13, 41 A Smith 34.18, 46 Nigel Dewhurst 34.35, 56 Vinny Brookes 35.09, 90 Roy Ashcroft 37.48, 150 Jim Taylor 42.37, M Tibbet 44.58, Richard Queen 57.22, 214 (1st L60) Maureen Roberts 62.22. Hyndburn AC: 18 Neil Tattersall 31.43. Chorley AC: 19 M O'Donnell 31.44, 49 P Gillingham 34.45, 126 V Houghton 40.44.

Rossendale: 25 S Hoyle 32.53. West Pennine: 36 Neil Holding 33.39, 40 Dougie Aspden 33.40, 179 Jan Holding 45.34, 197 Yvonne Pumford 51.24, S Fielding 57.25. Red Rose: 38 Fred Lynch 33.55, 47 Geoffrey Haworth 34.36, 165 Richard Packer 44.25.

Blackburn Harriers: 40 Mike Blacklidge 34.09, 59 George Woodburn 35.19, 71 Barry Crewdson 36.08.

Chorley Harriers: 45 D Raby 34.33, J Age 37.26, 163 Janet Chaplin 44.01, 196 Daryl Peter 51.14.

Blackburn RR: 50 Julian Markham 34.51, 123 John Mitchell 40.37, 137 (1st M65) Ray Moulding 41.27, 192 Eileen Peat (48.23), 195 Lynda Mason 50.26. Pendle AC: 152 (1st LU18) Naimi Biddle 42.48.

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