GISBURN’S Tom Cornthwaite made it a hat-trick of wins at the Rivington Pike Fell Race after eclipsing a field of 213 on Saturday.

The Blackburn Harriers ace, pictured right, running in the vest of Northumberland Fell Runners, had picked up titles in 2006 and 2010 at Rivington, which lays claim to being one of the oldest fell races in Great Britain.

He did it again, his time of 17 minutes and 17 seconds more than enough to see of the strong challenge of Rossendale Harrier Sam Tosh, who ran superbly to finish second behind Cornthwaite.

Chorley’s Julian Goudge was East Lancashire’s third best finisher, coming home in 16th, while Paul Bradshaw of Blackburn Harriers finished one place behind.

Chorley claimed team success, taking fourth in the senior men’s standings and third in the veteran placings.

n Blackburn Harrier Karl Billington was the leading male junior during last Friday’s Salford 10K road race.

Billington was sixth overall, while Rossendale’s Chris Fell came home in 15th.