A TRIBUTE to a Rossendale national running champion is set to be restored at the beauty spot where he trained.
Legendary middle-distance athlete James ‘Treacle’ Sanderson used to complete training runs around Cowm Reservoir.
And he marked off the 440 yards, from the waterworks gate, underneath a stone cross on the reservoir wall.
Several years ago the former North West Water lowered the height of the wall, to improve views across the reservoir, and the stone was removed for posterity by Sanderson’s descendants.
But now Whitworth Sports Council wants to commemorate the achievements of the former blacksmith, who is said to have lost only one race.
suffered only one loss in an organised race over one-and-a-quarter or one-and-a-half miles.
He was defeated by Scot James McLeavy in 1876 and only raced sporadically afterwards.
An information board could also be erected to provide more about the life story of Sanderson, who died in December 1905.
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