THE witches would have found very little room for one of their Pendle meetings when 666 runners invaded the Hill to take part in the Fell Runners Association British Relay Championships, writes GEORGE KIRBY.

Nor would they have found space to park their broomsticks as cars carrying runners, officials and spectators converged on the normally peaceful village of Barley for this increasingly popular event which attracts all the best in the fell running fraternity.

Pre-race favourites, Borrowdale, were down the field in 31st place at the end of the first leg, with Pudsey and Bramley, who were also well fancied, up in sixth place. Locals, Clayton-le-Moors Men's A team, and Rossendale Veterans, were among the teams separating them.

Leg two saw Pudsey shoot up into the lead with Borrowdale also moving up towards the front, placed 12th, and Clayton A still the nearest local contenders. The Clayton Men's B team had now moved ahead of Rossendale's Vets.

Borrowdale were a minute and a half faster than the best of the rest on the third leg, gaining 10 places to zoom up to second position. Pudsey held their lead and Clayton A came through significantly to sixth spot.

On the final stage Borrowdale could take only one second out of Pudsey's lead, so the Yorkshire club became 1997 champions with Borrowdale runners-up and Dark Peak, who had surged through into third spot, on the previous leg, holding their place and taking home the bronze medals.

There was a great cheer from local supporters as Shaun Livesey, after running the second fastest last loop, brought home host club, Clayton, in fourth place.

In fact, this had been a great performance by Clayton's team in which earlier runners were Gary Wilkinson, Mark Aspinall and Mark Horrocks, and Mike Wallace and David Nuttall, whose fifth place on the navigational leg was invaluable. Next best East Lancastrians were Clayton Vets: Peter McWade, Roger Hargreaves and Graham Cunliffe, Jack Holt and Keiron Carr, and Barry Mitchell, who were 41st.

Rossendale men were two places behind, 43rd through Declan Callen, Stuart and Gary Sumner, Andy Hewitt and Andy Buttery, and Andrew Preedy.

They were a minute and a half faster than their own veterans who were next in 44th place. Led by Thornton Taylor who was 22nd on the opening leg, Tony Spicer and Tony Higginson were next, then Bob Ashworth and Barry Rawlinson, with Ray Rawlinson bringing them home.

Clayton Men's B, 46, were represented by John Roche, Simon Clarke and Mick Procter who were fifth fastest on the second leg, Alan Life and Andy Stubbs, and Mark Brown, 10th fastest on the last stage.

Darwen Dashers did themselves proud, 58th through Neville Rickard, Gary Taylor and Phil Hargreaves, Julian Donnelly and Gary Mitchell and Dougie Aspden.

This was probably the club's best-ever team performance.

Clayton Male Veterans Z team: Lawrence Sullivan, Ronnie Orr and Phil Taylor, Tony Peacock and John Lenahan, and Walter Wilkinson were 82nd of the 99 finishing teams, but they were not alone in that position.

They had had the usual battle with their own ladies team for whom Vanessa Peacock was well ahead on the opening stage. On leg two Cathie Wallis and Katie Thompson slipped behind a little despite running well. Wendy Dodds and Jane Sullivan were within seven minutes of the Z's at the end of the third leg.

Beverley McWade produced the fourth fastest ladies time on the anchor leg and caught Walter Wilkinson on the line. The timekeeper's could not separate them on the watches and judges declared a dead heat for 82nd place - perhaps the fairest outcome for a domestic struggle!

Clayton Ladies B team - Sue Middleton, Linda Bostock and Jean Rawlinson, Alison Smith and Judy Hindle, and Juliet Whalley were 99th.

Starting well, with Jack Winder 58th on leg one and Dave Fielding and Deborah Gowans 70th after the next stage, Accrington did not have a complete team. Nor did Rossendale ladies who had Karen Taylor 98th on the first leg.

The whole day was a triumph of organisation for Clayton-le-Moors Harriers whose handling of such a huge enterprise was impeccable throughout.

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