The prolific Tom Cornthwaite has won the Half Tour of Pendle at his first attempt - and then capped it with victory at the Roddlesworth Roller Trail Race at Abbey Village the following day.
The fell running season started in earnest with the new month, and Clayton Harriers' first race of the year was pitched against the opening English Championship counter at Black Combe in the Western Lakes.
Nevertheless, it held its own, attracting 200 competitors, only marginally down from the usual intake and boosted by local clubs like Darwen Dashers including it in their club championships.
The weather was kinder to the athletes than expected too, and a successful meeting ensued.
There was only one Blackburn Harrier in the entire field, but Cornthwaite was a cut above and won by over two minutes in 1:07:31, albeit a full five outside Shaun Livesey's 1996 record.
After finishing second in the Full Tour to a course record, the U23 international will no doubt have that in his sights too come November.
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Wharfedale's Ted Mason was the runner up in 1:09:52 before the first two Clayton Harriers crossed the line back at Barley Village.
Their newly crowned fell club champion, Paul Thompson, took third in 1:10:48 and, in fourth, Ian Greenwood won the veteran class in 1:13:12.
Their third counter, Dave Walker, was ninth with Chris Balderson and David Edmondson 12th and 14th, but they were by no means the only locals in the top 20.
James Barrow from Burnley was 11th, Darwen Dashers' Dave Naughton and Mark France took 13th and 17th and Rossendale's Richard Stott placed 19th. From the same club, Derek Schofield was second over 50, while Todmorden's Derek Clutterbuck was first over 70.
Only Lindsey Squires from Horwich RMI prevented Clayton's Tracy Mitchell winning the women's race.
The two were the only contenders to crack an hour and a half with respective times of 1:25:57 and 1:29:43.
Inter club parity was restored in the veteran class, as fourth-placed Sue Burns from Clayton edged the title by just two seconds from Suzanne Budgett of Horwich.
Accrington Road Runner Debbie Gowans was third vet as Karin Goss of Clayton was second over 50.
l Rob Hope has opened his English Fell Championship campaign with second at the Black Combe Race. Hope, from Wheelton near Chorley, but representing Yorkshire club Pudsey and Bramley, clocked 1:10:41 for the eight miles.
The 2005 joint champion was almost three minutes behind Rob Jebb from Bingley, but more than two clear of third.
Andrew Wrench in 16th and Chris Smale 19th were second and third over 40s for Todmorden, while the first counters for Bowland Fell Runners and Chorley Harriers were Sean Bolland 20th and Dominic Raby 24th.
Darwen-based Horwich Harrier Graham Schofield was the fourth over 50 with Kieran Carr of Clayton second over 60.
Wendy Dodds was the winning over 55 woman and was less than a minute behind the first over 50 in 1:38:28 as her Clayton club mate Katy Thompson made fourth in the over 50 class.
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