THE Tour of Pendle will celebrate its 30th anniversary in style on Saturday with the race reaching its 500 entry limit.

Numbers have been boosted by the fact that the Fell Runners Association is holding its annual presentation at Mytton Fold Hotel, Langho in the night.

The awards do, like the race itself, is being organised by Clayton-le-Moors Harriers.

But chief organiser Kieran Carr believes the growing popularity of the race, which will start and finish at The Old Waterworks near Barley Village Hall, is down to its volunteers.

Carr, a Clayton-le-Moors member, said: “It’s the first time we’ve had a full 500. We’ve had more than 400 before but never the full 500.

“I think it is the support of the people who put the race on – the marshals and the helpers –that makes it such a good event.”

Clayton-le-Moors Harriers will have a host of members on the start line.

Other local clubs, including Blackburn Harriers, Darwen Dashers, Chorley Athletic and Triathlon Club and Barlick Fell Runners, will also be represented.

It is a list which features top names including Gary Devine and fellow former English and British champion Ian Holmes.

The Tour of Pendle, which gets under way at 10.30am, is the first of two big fell races held in East Lancashire this weekend The second, Darwen Dashers’ David Staff Memorial, follows on Sunday.

The race will start at the bandstand in Sunnyhurst Woods at 11.30am before heading across the reservoir dam and then climbing up towards Darwen Tower.

After a loop around the moors, the route drops back to trace the outward leg back to finish at the bandstand.

The race is run in memory of David Staff, who joined the Dashers as a 15-year-old and competed in many fun runs as a junior.

In September 1994, the Blackburn Rovers fan completed the Great North Run in one hour, 49 minutes and 2 seconds alongside his dad Granville.

David’s first and last race as a senior was in the Clitheroe 10k on December 27, 1994. David collapsed and died by the road side from a condition called Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy.

Funds raised from the race will go to the Cardiac Risk in the Young charity.