There were class wins and new course records for Clayton-le-Moors Harriers and Accrington Road Runners at the Pennine Bridleway Relay while hosts Rossendale Harriers were third outright to be the first local finishers.

The race also set a record of its own with 104 teams of 10 taking part this year lifting the total number of runners to more than 1,000 for the first time.

The race follows the Mary Towneley Loop of the Pennine Bridleway starting and finishing in Waterfoot and traversing the hillsides and crossing the valleys between Rossendale, Burnley, Hebden Bridge, Todmorden and Rochdale.

The 47 miles is split into five stages between 5.5 miles and 12.5 miles long, with each run in pairs.

Rossendale Harriers made the best possible start as Grant Cunliffe and Joe Kelly made the first change at the windfarm above Cliviger nearly a minute clear.

Their women’s pairing of Sarah Yeomans and Emma Flanagan were not only leading but were a mere second off Clayton’s 2006 record, although Accrington’s Sarah Ridehalgh and Nicola Wood were only another seven seconds in arrears competing in the mixed class.

Clayton’s veteran men were already in front too as Garry Wilkinson and Andy Stubbs handed to Tim Edward and Dave Edmondson.

Dale’s vets took second in 5:20:25 with the legendary Dave Lewis running the first leg and Sean Molloy and Jeremy Gold being the best in class on the short fourth stage from Summit to Whitworth.

Blackburn Harriers, the highest local 12 months ago took sixth in 5:06:25, but were a single second behind the champions Horwich RMI Harriers.

Todmorden’s women were leading their class at the final handover after Sarah May and English Fell champion Lauren Jeska covered the 12.5-mile long second stage in 1:33:08 and Sarah Warburton and Ali Richards combined to break the women’s record to Summit on the third.

However Calder Valley retained their title after setting a record for the final leg. Their overall time was also a record – 6:03:02 – while Tod were second on 6:09:38 and Clayton Harriers third in 6:12:05. After their early heroics, Rossendale were fifth.

Accrington Road Runners were candidates for ‘club of the day’ after a hard earned victory over defending champions Chorley Harriers in the mixed class where teams include five women and five men.

Interestingly, both clubs adopted identical strategies with women on the first and fourth stages, men on the second and third, and a mixed pair to finish.

It made for close racing and after Accrington’s early advantage Chorley went ahead after the two men’s stages.

Accrington were in front by a single position at the final changeover, but there was an extraordinary finish on the closing stage from Whitworth back to Waterfoot when Accrington’s new signing Tara Kryzwicki, running with Chris Barnes set the third fastest time.

Only the top two men’s teams – Salford and Calder Valley – were quicker. In spite of lowering the race record to 5:32:40, they were still only three minutes ahead of the Chorley club.