CLAYTON Le Moors Harriers won the men’s team event in their own Tour of Pendle fell race on Saturday.

Andy Brown was first home for Clayton in third place overall on the 17mile course, having guided winner Carl Bell (Howgill Harriers) around for most of the race.

The second Clayton member home was a newcomer to the Tour, and to fell running, Matt Lalor.

His outstanding run brought him home in eighth place and, with vets Mike Wallis (14th/1st M55) and Garry Wilkinson (16th/2nd M45), helped Clayton to claim the team prize.

Ladies’ fell captain, Jean Brown, was the first Clayton female in 106th place, enough to be the fourth lady, just a few minutes behind winner Nicky Spinks of Dark Peak.

Kath Wallis completed a family double by winning the F55 category in 207th place matching the feat of husband Mike as, with Alison Dugdale, Clayton’s women finished second in the team event behind Wharfedale Harriers.

Five Chorley athletes took part in the 16.8mile 4,800ft race, arguably Lancashire’s hardest fell race.

Julian Goudge had an outstanding run finishing 21st, with Darren Fishwick 59th, Lynne Clough 79th to finish the second lady home. Paul Jackson finished 262nd and Glyn Denver 338th.

Fishwick completed his busy Saturday but attending the Fell Runners Association presentation, night held at Disley, Stockport.

He picked up an award for most improved fell runner in the Lakeland classics which include Wasdale, Ennerdale, Duddon, Borrowdale, Langdale and Three Shires.

Darwen Dashers also enjoyed an impressive outing in the Tour of Pendle, with Jonathan Brunton their first runner home in 11th position overall.

Team mate Mark Walsh finished 30th, eighth in the M45 category, with Kevin Smith crossing the line in 103rd and team-mate Paul Taylor 158th.

Rossendale Harriers’ Toby Evans enjoyed a good showing finishing the M40 race in third and coming 17th overall.

Team mates Jon Tinman, (264th/ 16th M45), and Ronnie Taylor (84th/ 11th M50), also put in impressive runs in the men’s race. Rossendale’s Davina Reidy, running in the L40 category, finished 302nd overall.

Accrington Road Runners’ Deborrah Gowans was another notable performer, racing to second place in the L45 category and finishing as the fifth woman home, 115th overall.

Graham Morris and Paul Calverley, also of Accrington, were 148th overall in the men’s race.

Craig Stansfield, of Todmorden Harriers, was the sixth runner home in the M40 age group, finishing 33rd overall, with team mates Dan Taylor, Darren Graham, Ben Crowther and Andy McFie also running strongly.

Blackburn Harriers’ Allan Hartley, John Orrell Richard Taylor was also in action, finishing 283rd, 318th and 326th overall respectively.