CHRIS Farrell was the winner of Darwen Dashers’ David Staff Memorial fell race on Saturday.

The Horwich RMI Harriers ace was first past the post in 32 minutes and 24 seconds.

Following up in second was fastest M40 Steve Swarbrick of Bowland Fell Runners in 33mins 21secs.

Jack Smith of Wharfedale Harriers was third in 33mins 33secs and Mark Tickle of Manchester Tri Club fourth in 34mins 26secs.

Jack Hindle was fifth in 34mins 55secs, making the Blackburn Harrier the fastest junior.

Pudsey & Bramley AC’s James Titmuss (35mins 8secs), Rossendale Harriers’ M40 Steve Clawson (35mins 15secs), Saddleworth Runners Club’s Simon Pymm (35mins 41secs), Chorley Athletic and Triathlon Club’s Julian Goudge (36mins 11secs) and Helm Hill Runners’ Lee Procter (36mins 37secs) made up the rest of the top 10.

Dionne Allen, of Leigh Harriers & AC, was the first female home in 11th overall (36mins 50secs).

One place and one second behind in 12th was M40 Derek Reilly, who led hosts Darwen Dashers’ charge in 36mins 51secs.

Rossendale Harriers’ Gerard Navan was the M70 prize winner in 53mins 32secs.

The fastest female junior finisher was Darwen Dashers’ Alice Capstick in 56mins 28secs.

The other Darwen Dashers members finishing the 142-strong race were M40 Paul Taylor (34th in 41mins 23secs), Paul Thompson (54th in 43mins 22secs), M50 Julian Donnelly (56th in 43mins 42secs), M50 Peter Murphy (89th in 47mins 23secs), F50 Julia Rushton (113th in 51mins 38secs), F40 Nerina Gill (124th in 55mins 13secs), Jim Taylor (134th in 59mins) and F40 Anna Capstick (140th in one hour, seven minutes and 10 seconds).

Richard Briscoe was the first Clayton-le-Moors Harriers member over the line in 39th (41mins 51secs).

John McDonald (76th in 46mins 1sec) and fellow M50 David Richards (103rd in 50mins 30secs) had that honour for Trawden AC and Blackburn Road Runners respectively.

The race was run in memory of David Staff, who joined Darwen Dashers as a 15-year-old and competed in many fun runs as a junior.

David turned 17 on December 5, 1994, which allowed him to compete as a senior for the Dashers.

His first and last race as a senior was in the Clitheroe 10k on December 27, 1994.

David collapsed and died by the road side from a condition called Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy.

Funds raised from the race go to the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young.