THE Ribble Valley Ten Kilometre race has always been a 'must do' event for East Lancashire's road racers, often as much for social as competitive reasons.

Under the recent stewardship of Blackburn Harriers, it has retained the relaxed post-Christmas atmosphere, while now boasting probably the highest quality field in the county calendar.

The entry topped 1000, although with around 200 no-shows, a more manageable 850 competitors toed the line at Edisford Bridge.

The bonuses on offer of £150 for course records attracted athletes of the calibre of Anthony Ford and Helen Clitheroe, and although Ford cracked 30 minutes, the Blackpool man's 29:51 failed to erase Tomas Abyu's 2005 time of 29:33 from the record books.

Preston's former Commonwealth Games medallist Clitheroe was chasing a tough target of 32:20 set herself two years ago and fell 22 seconds short as she won for the fourth time. That will move her to sixth in the final national rankings list of 2007.

With Salford's Andi Jones and Rob Berry from Southport second and third in the men's race, three were left to battle it out for local pride.

Last year's runner-up Ben Fish was fourth in 30:47, ahead of fell international Tom Cornthwaite, fifth in 31:09, and cross country international Ben Lindsay with sixth in 31:21.

Fish, Cornthwaite and 15th placed Matt Nuttall (32:15) gave Blackburn a 16 point advantage in the team race over Ford's Blackpool, and there was even better news for the hosts with seven in the first 50 thanks to Scott Monk (29th), Paul Guinan (38th), Richard Stones (45th), and Paul Bradshaw (50th). Pudsey and Bramley were third team with current British Fell Champion Rob Hope from Chorley clocking 32:17 for 16th.

Only three veterans made the top 50, which put the winning junior's performance into context. Blackburn's Karl Billington was 51st in 34:52, while the ever reliable Evan Cook (Blackburn), Richard Lawson (Clayton), and Bill Atkinson (Northern Vets) won the over 55, over 65 and over 70 classes. Ron Hill, given race number one as he embarks on his second 150,000 miles, returned another quick time (48:14) to be second over 65. Meanwhile Ian Greenwood, Paul Archer and Graham Cunliffe won the veteran team prize for Ron's team Clayton-le-Moors Harriers.

The mild and still conditions were custom made for fast times over the gently rolling circuit and nearly 200 runners broke 40 minutes including 21 women. Great Britain international Vicky Gill improved by three quarters of a minute as she finished second woman in 33:28.

Just like Ben Lindsay who switched from Pendle, the Chorley woman's first claim club is now Aldershot, Farnham and District.

Rachel Wood of Blackburn Harriers was 10th and the winning junior in 38:05, just ahead of club mate Alison Leonard, 13th in 38:35.

In between, Sarah Ridehalgh in 12th broke her own Accrington Road Runners' club record by four seconds with 38:22. Up and coming Sara Parkinson from Chorley Harriers and the experienced Darwen Dasher Linda Clarkson just made sub-40 times with 39:56 and 39:57 respectively, with Clarkson winning the over 40 class.

The women's team race was desperately close with Horwich edging Preston by a single point and Blackburn Harriers taking third with veteran Jackie Taylor backing up Wood and Leonard.

Clayton Harriers Marion Wilkinson and Kitty Garnett were the over 65 and over 70 winners, but it was Blackpool who captured the veteran team award.