JONNY Mellor moved above World and Olympic champion Mo Farah to the top of the British 10k rankings with victory in Sunday’s Ribble Valley 10k.

Liverpool Harriers & AC ace Mellor came home in 29 minutes and 12 seconds to claim the crown for the second time having also won it in 2011 in a course record time.

His performance was one second better than Farah’s best in 2013.

It also earned Mellor the North of England title as the popular and competitive annual event, organised by Blackburn Harriers, also incorporated the North of England 10k Championships.

Callum Hawkins (Kilbarchan AAC) was second in 29mins 36secs and Daniel Studley (Bristol & West) third in 29mins 48secs.

Ben Fish spearheaded the local charge.

The Blackburn Harriers star finished 13th in 30mins 21secs.

Matthew Lalor (52nd in 32mins 54secs), Karl Billington (55th in 33mins 25secs), Paul Guinan (63rd in 33mins 49secs), Matt Nuttall (64th in 33mins 52secs), Brian Fogarty (77th in 34mins 18secs), Paul Bradshaw (80th in 34mins 27secs), Shaun Livesey (89th in 34mins 34secs) and Thomas Blaney (100th in 34mins 57secs) also produced top-100 finishes for Blackburn Harriers in what was 1,082-strong field.

Sale Harriers starlet Georgia Taylor-Brown raced to the women’s Ribble Valley and North of England titles in a personal best time of 33mins 34secs. Joe Johnston (47th in 32mins 42secs) was the first Rossendale Harriers member home followed by Stephen Corbishley (178th in 38mins 3secs).

David Lord (139th in 36 mins 47secs) and Chris Quigley (202nd in 38mins 39secs) led the way for Trawden AC.

Graham Morris (159th in 37mins 41secs) and Chris Halstead (161st in 37mins 40secs) were first past the post for Accrington Road Runners; David Birthwistle (162nd in 37mins 25secs) and Martin Kerry (316th in 41mins 20secs) for Blackburn Road Runners.

Roger Brewster (197th in 38mins 40secs) and Colin Shuttleworth (211th in 38mins 56secs) were the stand-out performers for Clayton-le-Moors Harriers; Paul Taylor (264th in 40mins 13secs) and Jacqueline Shaw (550th in 46mins 55secs) for Darwen Dashers; Derek Walkden (318th in 41mins 26secs) and John Boothman (372nd in 42mins 14secs) for Barlick Fell Runners; Callum Ross (324th in 41mins 26secs) and David Moynihan (352nd in 42mins 9secs) for Hyndburn AC; Jay Waddington (428th in 43mins 21secs) and Lee Harris (651st in 48mins 50secs) for Ribble Valley Triathlon Club, and Allan Blackwell (429th in 43mins 21secs) and Michael Hendry (549th in 57mins 7secs) for Chorley AC & Triathlon Club.

The awards were presented by Dr Ron Hill, who was celebrating his 75th birthday.

All proceeds from the race will go to helping local athletes performing at the highest level.