IT was home from home for Tom Cornthwaite after winning the 25th Bolton-by-Bowland Fell Race for the sixth time in nine years – though the event’s course record still eludes him.

The 26-year-old from Gisburn was among a huge field of 162 runners that splashed through the mud at the eight-mile Ribble Valley circuit.

And once again, it was left to the Blackburn Harrier ace to demonst-rate his prowess on familiar territory, coming home 35 seconds ahead of club-mate Josh Tighe in a time of 48 minutes and 30 seconds.

Conditions were unlikely to see Cornthwaite end his long wait to shatter the race record of 44:18 set by Shaun Livesey in 1989. The weather has regularly played an unkind hand with deep snow hitting the tracks twice in the previous three years.

It was in 2008 that he actually cooled off after victory with a freezing ice bath.

But on his 11th successive Bolton-by-Bowland showing, Cornthwaite continues to prove his class in a race that is close to his heart.

Two of his uncles are farmers in the area and the race passes right through the yard of Higher Monubent Farm usually watched by family gathered to celebrate his mum’s and grandma’s birthdays. The winner’s board in the village hall was even made by his dad.

Third last year, Tighe moved up one place to take the runners-up spot in 49.05, while Rossendale’s Grant Cunliffe (50.03) was a further minute back in third, though the chasing pack were almost two minutes behind the leading East Lancashire trio.

Tara Krzywicki, of the Accrington Road Runners, led home the women in 59 minutes and 33 seconds.

Accrington team-mate Debbie Gowans finished second overall, but the leading Vet40, in 61:08, with Jayne Butterworth of Skipton coming third in 64:20.

It was the 25th anniversary of the event that has been organised every year by Roger Dewhurst and he was pleased with the numbers of runners that came to support it.

“It’s not a record, but having 162 runners is a great achievement,” he said. The race raised close to £600, with proceeds going towards the village hall.