EAST Lancashire athletes were out in full force in Halifax Harriers’ annual Mytholmroyd Fell Race on Sunday.

The seven-mile route was completed by 101 runners with the course climbing 1300 feet from Mytholmroyd, over Midgley Moor and along the Luddenden Valley.

The race was nearly cut short this year by severe ice conditions in the Luddenden Valley but a sudden overnight thaw on Saturday combined by a magnificent effort from club members Chris Burrell and Pete McCormick in setting out the course made the race possible at the last moment.

Rossendale’s Dave Kelly was the stand out performer from the region as he triumphed in the MV55 race, finishing in 19th position overall.

Team mate Patrick Brennan was a place behind Kelly, finished 20 seconds back, while Rossendale’s Michale Toman came in 34th overall and sixth in the MV45 category.

Also in action for Rossendale, Jeff Hignett ran strongly to finish sixth in the MV60 race, 65th overall, while Natalie Murphy was the third woman home and Jim Rowe finished in 96th.

Clayton-le-Moors Harriers also had an interest in the race with Mick Dobson their first athlete home in 32nd and fifth in the MV40 category.

Clayton’s Ivan Whigham finished three places behind in 35th, 3rd in the MV50 race, while Andrew Dugdale was the next MV50 home in 39th overall.

Richard Treith finished in 80th.

Chorley’s Darren Fishwick ran well to finish in eighth overall and 2nd in the MV40 race, while Blackburn’s Stuart Furness came 53rd and 3rd in the MV60 class.