TOM Cornthwaite celebrated a double race victory ... on the same day.

When most runners fancy two big events on the same day, they choose between them, while the more foolhardy might run in both and suffer.

But last Sunday, Cornthwaite ran the eight-mile-long Bowland Fell Race in the morning, then after lunch another six miles at Hyndburn in the Red Rose Cross Country League - and won them both!

The 22-year-old Blackburn Harrier has a fine record at Bowland, winning in 2004 and 2005 after placing second to Mark Aspinall the year before. Nevertheless he would have been anxious to put right last year's blip when he was beaten into second place by Bashir Hussain.

Then, Tom was a minute clear and in complete control when he turned an ankle crossing the beck, yet managed to limp the final five miles without losing more than a single position before being carted off to hospital for an x-ray.

Organiser Roger Dewhurst was alert to the added danger at the two water crossings this year as very heavy rainfall had swelled them by a factor of four or five in the last two hours before the start.

The decision was made to abandon the fords and use the footbridges, but even the most diligent of risk assessments wouldn't have predicted the incident which did occur.

After the runners have travelled about a mile there is a road crossing and the sight of the runners prompted around 20 cows to stampede completely flattening a barbed wire fence and a five barred gate.

Although frightening for those involved, there was fortunately only one minor injury - a cut leg for Clayton's Bob Hirst. Moreover, thanks to an understanding farmer, there are unlikely to be repercussions for the future.

Meanwhile Cornthwaite was running a measured race at the head of the field, frequently glancing back to make sure his lead was adequate. He finished in exactly 48 minutes, nearly four minutes outside Shaun Livesey's record and 14 seconds in front of Tom Addison who was celebrating his 18th birthday on the day. His cousin Mark Addison was third.

The Addisons run for Helm Hill Harriers, but are sons of former Clayton Harriers Mike and Sean Addison.

Jon Wright was Todmorden's first counter in fifth while the pick of the Rossendale Harriers was ninth placed Gareth Jackson.

Bowland Fell Runners Quentin Harding and Chris Reade, in sixth and seventh, were the leading veterans from Sean Addison in tenth.

Fred Lynch, from the Red Rose club, was second over 50 while the former Clayton Harrier Doug Brown won the over 70s for Wesham Road Runners. First woman was Emma Gregory from the Fell Ponies in 65:20 with Chorley Harrier Jackie Redmayne third in 67:47.

With the cross country being switched to Sunday and the inclement weather the attendance was a slightly disappointing 126, but the Village Hall still stands to benefit by around £350.