BLACKBURN Harriers star Ben Fish powered to a top-10 finish at the Manchester Marathon.

But he was not the only East Lancashire runner to impress at the big event.

Fish came seventh overall in two hours 23 minutes and five seconds.

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And he said: “I was right up with the front guys at 10 miles but then I hit a really bad patch shortly after and I had to really dig deep and I claimed back a couple of positions after 20 miles.”

Trawden AC’s Chris Singleton followed up in 17th in 2hrs 33mins 16secs followed by Burnley AC’s Gary Shaw in 19th in 2hrs 34mins 38secs and Barlick Fell Runners’ Ian Livesey in 30th in 2hrs 37mins 21secs.

All three passed the post in personal best times.

Next home for Blackburn Harriers was Brian Fogarty who warmed up for his forthcoming Ironman in Lanzarote by finishing 174th in 2hrs 52mins.

And then came the Berlin Marathon-bound Kaylie Panaro in a personal best time of 3hrs 42mins 18secs for 2,742nd overall.

Meanwhile, at the Mid Lancs Cross Country League presentation evening, Chorley Athletic & Triathlon Club’s ever present and consistent core team of Phil Iddon (24th), Bill Beckett (37th), Warren Crook (39th), Jonathan Burgess (42nd), Paul Wareing (56th) and Stephen Baker (65th) ensured the club won promotion to Division Two by finishing second in their standings.

The same group were also the third overall MV40 team.

Only two Chorley ladies featured in the overall results with Christine Sweatman 72nd and Shelley Parkinson 84th.

The club’s U11s just missed out on medals with Olivia Leigh, who had come first, third and fourth, seventh overall in races, and Emily Warren, who was superb in the last two races with fifth and second positions, 10th overall.

In the boys Daniel Lilley (sixth) had a very consistent season and Sam Prince (27th), the youngest in the field, had a brilliant series.