CLAYTON Harriers Andy Orr and Ian Greenwood crossed the Yorkshire border last Saturday to try and tame 'The Beast.'

That's the nickname of the Wadsworth Trog, a 20 mile long fell race over a demanding course, mostly tussocky grass on open moorland.

After the recent rains the conditions were very boggy - described by Ian as 'energy sapping' - and to make matters worse low cloud caused most of the runners navigational problems.

According to spectators the two had been running close together throughout, but because of the mist they saw little of each other and didn't link up until the closing stages.

Andy and Julian Rank of Holmfirth had been in front but strayed slightly while Ian, running with a local Andy Clarke from organisers Calder Valley Fell Runners, had found a better path across the moor.

Orr spotted them through a break in the cloud and took up their line. At the last checkpoint the Clayton men were together and as they raced head to head they pulled six minutes clear of the battle for third.

It wasn't until the final climb that Andy's strength told and as the race took its toll Ian began to cramp.

By the end the margin was 39 seconds with both men inside 3:11- that it was 20 minutes outside last year's record by Ian Ferguson was testament to the conditions.

Nearly half an hour later Clayton's third finisher Neil Worswick crossed the line in 14th to seal a team victory for the club by two points.

For Andy, who specialises in the longer distances, it was his first major win since partnering Simon Thompson in the 1996 Wuthering Hike. The 31 mile Hike is coming up again next month and he is hoping for success with new partner Dave Naughton of Darwen Dashers.

Ian's result gave him his first age group victory since becoming a veteran, and it will put him in good heart for an assault on the Three Peaks Race in April.

For the third successive time Ross Jaques of Clayton was the winning over 60 while Lee Warburton of Bowland Fell Runners was third M40 and eighth overall.

Former ladies winner Jane Smith was third this year, but took the over 40's title for Todmorden Harriers, and Lisa Richardson was sixth for Blackburn Road Runners as she continues her preparations for the 31 mile Manx Mountain Marathon.

Taking place simultaneously, the Half Trog was a new event this year designed to whet appetites for the longer race. Paul Targett of Clayton finished third in the nine miler with 55 runners taking part.

Trog: Men: 1 Andy Orr (CleM) 3:10:20; 2 (1st M40) Ian Greenwood (CleM) 3:10:59; 3 Andy Clarke (Calder Valley FR) 3:16:48; 8 (3rd M40) Lee Warburton (Bowland FR) 3:24:56; 14 Neil Worswick (CleM) 3:37:27; 17 (M40) Martin Brady (CleM) 3:38:29; 21 (M40) Howard Nicholson (CleM) 3:40:25; 27 (M40) Dave Naughton (Darwen D) 3:42:57; 29 Stephen Whittaker (CleM) 3:44:28; 32 (M40) Richard Ballaries (CleM) 3:47:54; 42 (1st M60) Ross Jaques (CleM) 3:52:48; 45 Andrew Lee (Ross) 3:53:25; 62 (M50) Nick Harris (Ross) 4:07:22; 77 (1st M70) Brian Leathley (CleM) 4:38:19

Women: 1 (26th overall) Karen Mather (Saddleworth) 3:41:59; 2 (33rd) Sharon Taylor (Bingley) 3:48:04; 3 (40th/1st F40) Jane Smith (Tod) 3:52:20; 6 (70th) Lisa Richardson (Blackburn RR) 4:32:06; 7 (73rd) Karen Midgley (Ross) 4:37:46; 8 (83rd) Mel Wilkinson-Walsh (CleM) 4:41:40

Half Trog: 1 James Wadsworth (Wharfedale) 1:23:41; 2 Stefan Macina (Pudsey and Bramley) 1:24:00; 3 Paul Targett (CleM) 1:24:12; 11 (3rd M40) Angus Barclay (Tod) 1:39:46; 13 (M40) Andrew Robinson (CleM) 1:43:05; 15 (M40) Martin Roberts (Tod) 1:44:39; 17 (M40) Allan Yeomans (Pendle Forest Orienteers) 1:45:47; 29 (M50) Peter Marshall (Tod) 1:48:29; 31 (M50) Ray Poulter (Tod) 1:49:02 First Lady: (25th overall/1st F40) Linda Crabtree (Halifax) 1:47:52