The Pennine Bridleway Relay came of age on Sunday after its third running produced a thrilling race and a record field of 570 runners in 57 teams.

The 47 mile race clockwise around the Mary Towneley Loop section of the bridleway is a worthy successor to the old Rossendale Way Relay and a credit to organisers Graham Wright and Rossendale Harriers.

Three local teams - Bowland Fell Runners, Clayton-le-Moors Harriers and Todmorden Harriers - each took turns to lead before Bowland crossed the line with just 12 seconds in hand.

The result of the women's race was also in doubt until the final stage when Clayton's Dany Robson and Lindsay Hudson eased away from the Horwich and Calder Valley pairs.

There was also success for the non-specialist fell runners from Darwen Dashers and Accrington Road Runners who took second and third respectively in the mixed class behind a powerful Pudsey and Bramley outfit which included Sarah Rowell.

Clayton men set out their stall for overall victory by combining the cream of their senior and veteran teams, and they made the perfect start as veterans Garry Wilkinson and Mark Aspinall headed the field at the first changeover at Cliviger following the 8.5 mile early morning dash from Waterfoot.

Defending champions Borrowdale were half a minute in arrears but their threat never materialised after the second leg pair, ironically including former Rossendale ace Andy Schofield, fell from contention.

Bowland were the leaders at the second change after the longest leg of 12.5 miles took the athletes to the outskirts of Hebden Bridge.

Sean Bolland and Mike Whyatt set second best time of the day behind Bingley's renowned Ian Holmes and Rob Jebb.

Todmorden Harriers were by now second only 10 seconds off the pace with Andrew Wrench and Jon Wright third fastest on stage two, and it got better for the team as Chris Smales and Alex Whittem overtook their rivals on the leg with the most climbing.

Clayton were still in the frame a further 18 seconds back following powerful runs from Andy Payne and Ian Greenwood then Phil Atherton and Jason Harbour.

In the final 11 miles Clayton's Mike Wallis and Dave Walker made up 50 seconds but Quentin Harding and Steve Sweeney held on to win for Bowland by 12 seconds in 5:02:45.

There was a three way tussle for the veteran prize before Horwich ran out worthy winners by nearly six minutes in 5:23:46.

Rossendale defeated Clayton for the runners up spot by little more than a minute after strong runs from Phil Taylor and Steve Duxbury then Steve Hoyle and Thornton Taylor on the second and third stages.

Meanwhile, Clayton women's squad won their class finishing 28th and in the top half of the field. The pairing of Anna Kelly with Vanessa Peacock set a women's record 1:07:31 on first leg