TWO East Lancashire runners battled it out for top spot in the over-60's section of the Garstang 10K road race.

Eventually, Doug Brown of Clayton finished ahead in 42.37 to inflict a narrow defeat on Accrington Road Runner Brian Scully (42.44).

This was the only road race to be given a permit in Lancashire in the whole of January and it attracted 366 runners. The numbers were further swelled by the cancellation of a cross country race in Cumbria which promoted a large entry from the Border and Copeland clubs, three from each finishing in the first 11.

The first East Lancashire finishers were five over 40's who finished just outside this leading group. Graham Cunliffe (13th in 34.49), Alan Clarkson (16th, 35.28) and Peter Butterworth (18th, 35.31) are all Clayton men, whilst Mervyn Owen (19th, 35.41) and Adrian Fearnley (23rd, 36.08) both run for Accrington Road Runners. Paul Freary of Bolton was the race winner, breaking the course record by eight seconds, and beating Border Harriers Alan Bowness and Stephen Murdoch who were second and first respectively at Wesham in November. Veteran's prize went to Paul Muller (Wrekin) who finished fourth. There were some top class lady athletes racing too, winner Jackie Hargreaves (Border) recorded 36.18. Janet Pound of Chorley AC was third over 40 in 42.08.

Results (overall): 1 Paul Freary (Bolton) 31.05, 2 Alan Bowness (Border) 31.11, 3 Stephen Murdoch (Border) 31.58, 4 (first vet) Paul Muller (Wrekin) 32.42. Team: Border. Ladies: 1 Jackie Hargreaves (Border) 36.18.

East Lancs (good for age) - Darwen Dashers: 44 Neil Holding 37.49, 146 Brian Tull 43.35, 239 Bernice Greenhalgh 48.41, 287 Sheila Fogg 51.37.

Clayton: 49 Jeffrey Pickup 38.17, 79 Ian Ramsey 40.25, 211 Gerald Rawlinson 47.00.

Chorley AC: 86 Stephen Fletcher 40.46.

Blackburn RR: 171 Sandra Snape 44.42, 305 Norma Smith 53.37.

Accrington RR: 177 Harry Haseley 45.04, 199 Gill Craske 46.11, 325 Alison Hope 56.17.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.