BROTHERS Thornton and Ken Taylor combined to take third place in the inaugural Chas Dickinson Memorial Relay around Entwistle Reservoir last Wednesday.

The veteran Rossendale pair were beaten only by two crack Salford Harrier teams as almost 100 runners gathered to remember the Bolton athlete who collapsed while training at this beautiful venue in May.

The race itself was advertised as a fun event, but from the start it was clear that at the front end it was a serious business.

After a first leg dominated by Salford, the race behind really hotted up on the second lap.

Ken Taylor's storming run into third spot just guaranteed local honours ahead of 'The Holiday Team' from Clayton Harriers, while Dave Schofield, paired with Eric Richardson ran the second Rossendale team into sixth.

Pete Lyon was seventh partnering a Salford runner in a composite team, while Tony Spicer, home on leave from Bahrain, was 12th running for the 'Two Tonys.' West Pennine 'A', anchored by Barry Crewdson, finished 23rd one place above the first ladies, Salford's 'Blond Bimbos.'

The race featured composite age categories with the oldest team having a combined age of 112.

That was Adrian Batson and Mick Chimecjzuk of Blackburn Road Runners who were 33rd.

The event was a resounding success, with a total of £317 being raised for the British Heart Foundation which will be used to research into cardio myopathy, a condition which can affect young athletes.

Organiser Steve Ellis is intending to make it part of a three race series for pairs next year by adding the Chetham Trail Race where times will be added and a longer race around the Jumbles, Wayoh and Entwistle Reservoirs where the pair must run together. Pauline triumphs over Zola BLACKBURN Harrier athletes past and present have prospered against world class opposition in the last couple of weeks.

First, England International Pauline Powell beat Zola Budd to finish third in the inaugural British Open 10K in London, then Richard Thomas helped Wales to third place in the International Snowdon Race.

In the same event, former Blackburn Harrier Graham Schofield won the M45 classification.

The British 10K was conceived last year as a memorial race to Diana, Princess of Wales but it didn't take place after the main sponsors withdrew their support.

This year it was a spectacular event as main roads in London were closed to allow 10,000 runners to stream along the route from Hyde Park Corner to the finish at Westminster.

In a large field with men and women running together it was difficult to keep tabs on the opposition, but Pauline cannily predicted that the Japanese Olympians Tanaka and Nagayama would pose the main threat and went with them in the early stages.

Although eventually she dropped off the pace as Tanaka won in 31:49, she maintained a strong third to finish nearly two minutes clear of Budd in 34:31.

Pauline has hit a purple patch, setting a PB 34:14 at the Manchester 10K in June, and she is hoping to carry that into the three races in the FILA Series which culminate with the Cheltenham 10K which incorporates the AAA's Championship.

She will also compete in the Great North Run before aiming for the World Cross Country Championships.

Welshmen Richard Thomas and Russell Owen were cheered home by a partisan crowd as they battled through the ten mile long International Snowden Race in hot still weather.

Richard, who had to withdraw last year because of family illness, made his mark by finishing third Welsh counter and 21st overall in 1:16:29.

Despite suffering a heavy fall on the descent which cost him valuable time, he still mustered the energy for a successful sprint finish as he beat one of the Slovenian athletes.

Fellow Darwen Dasher Owen had the bravest of runs, competing for Wales 'B' with an ankle sprained six weeks ago.

With the team unable to find a top class replacement, Russell agreed to run and kept fit with a cycling regime which included competing in the 80 mile Tour of Snowdonia.

"I really enjoyed it even though I took four and a half hours and was last," he said.

Remarkably, he was just a minute slower than last year on the ascent, but lost nearly ten minutes downhill as he protected the injury.

Of over 500 runners, he was still 58th in 1:26 and was fifth of eight Welsh counters.

Darwen banker Graham Schofield, the 1996 British Fell Champion, drew on his vast experience to win the M45 class, overtaking Thomas on the descent to take 19th in 1:16:18. McDonald Boys League TWO local clubs are still awaiting their fate in the McDonald Boy's League as officials tot up the final scores in Division One.

Blackburn Harriers finished their fixtures a week early and had to wait as the last fixtures were completed this weekend.

With only the top two promoted, Blackburn are likely to fall just short in third or fourth of the 16 teams.

Meanwhile Burnley with fixtures in successive weekends needed a strong show to save them from the drop.

After a long journey to Carlisle, Blackburn were pitched against hosts Border in a tough looking fixture.

The boys almost snatched an improbable win at the death when they won all of the sprint relays to close the gap to 1.5 points.

The effort was lead by English School's finalist Matt Wood who won Man of the Match for his winning 2:09 in the under 15's 800m.

Luke Jones, unbeatable in the 80m hurdles all season, produced a PB of 12.4 secs, while Ben Smithson and Chris Burton ensured maximum points in the discus.

The under 13's haven't failed all season. Rovers Academy player Zac Jones came close to Man of the Match again with a PB in the 100m of 13.1 secs, and won the 200m.

Burnley have won four Man of the Match Awards this season but suffer from lack of numbers rather than lack of quality.

At Carlisle it was Owen Woodward and Philip Hayton who took the titles.

Under 17 Owen was the Field Athlete of the Match for his long jump of 6.22m, one of three jumps victories as he also took the triple with 12.53m and high with 1.70m.

Another under 17 Daniel Whittaker took 'A' 100m, 'A' 200m and 'B' triple jump. Under 13 Philip Hayton won this track award for a blistering 5:01.2 in the 1500m. Round Up

Hebrides trip

for quartet FOUR Chorley Harriers have made a 900 mile return journey by road and sea-ferry to take part in the Isle of Harris Half Marathon in the Outer Hebrides. Phil Percival made an impressive comeback to road racing by finishing eighth in 1:23, while Frank Marston with 1:42, Mark Gibson 1:46 and Ken Chadwick 1:54 all returned creditable times considering the arduous nature of the terrain. With it's spectacular climbs being rewarded with stunning views of the rugged and desolate coastline, all agreed it was the most impressive race they had run. Laura's happy THE England Team were the winners of the European Catholic School's Championships in Hungary which have just drawn to a close. Pendle AC's Laura Finucane, who won gold and silver medals played a leading role in the team's success, and she is grateful to many East Lancashire people whose generosity made the trip possible. The Marsden Building Society, Multi-Sports of Nelson and the Governors of St Hilda 's School in Burnley were among the local sponsors who raised £800 for Laura. Neil's night HYNDBURN'S Neil Tattersall won the third round of the Wood End Night Series from veteran Paul Muller of Wrekin and Clayton's Dave Walker. Neil completed the four miles in 20:06 for 14 second margin of victory. Chorley Harriers Bernice Greenhalgh and Sara Horrobin won the F45 and F40 categories, as Julia Rushton of Darwen Dashers took the F35 title. Elsewhere at the Wagon and Horses 10M at Lancaster, Chorley Harriers John McDonald and Cheryl Pope were age group winners with John 1st M55, and Cheryl 1st F35. Accrington's Brian Scully made a welcome return after serious illness finishing 3rd M60. Fell pleasure THE Darwen Gala Fell Race will be held on Saturday August 18. Described as 'four miles and 850 feet of pure fell running pleasure' it starts at the gates of Bold Venture Park. The senior race is at 2:30pm with the juniors starting five minutes later. Demotion blow BLACKBURN Harriers and Hyndburn AC have both been demoted from Division 1 of the McDonald Girls League after completing their fixtures at Bury. Zoe Mercer returned a Grade 2 12.9 seconds in the under 13's 70m hurdles for Blackburn, while Caris Lake won the 'B' string in 13.4 and, in the under 13's, Carly Thompson won in the 'B' 150m. In the under 15's, Kelly Clegg took the 'B' 1500m while there was a PB of 1.20m in the high jump for Kadja Porter. Pick of the under 17's was Helen Leigh with second in the 'A' discus with 20.14m. What's On

On the right trail THE Radcliffe 6.6M Countryside Trail Race takes place tonight at 7:15pm. It starts at the Mason's Arms, Sion Street, Radcliffe (near the Asda Superstore). Although the start and finish are on the road, the rest is on tracks and trails. Please arrive early as the facilities are limited.

The third Annual Chernobyl Challenge takes place on Sunday at the Welcome Tavern in Preston. The 10K starts at 11am, with a two mile fun run at 10am. The Welcome Tavern is on Hennel Lane, Walton Park, Walton-le-Dale, two miles from the end of the M65 Bamber Bridge and M6 J29.

The Mesnes Park Family Fun Day 5K is on Sunday at 10:30am, and there is a one mile fun run at 11:30am. The park is in Wigan, with the races starting near the Powell Statue. The course is over fast roads and paths.

The Sale 10M starts at 9:30am on Sunday at the Wythenshawe Park Track in South Manchester, just off the M56. Elsewhere, the closing date for Sunday's Yorkshire Dales Duathlon has passed, so check with the organiser for late availability.

Wednesday sees the climax of the Haigh Hall 5M Road Race Series. Registration is at Wigan RU Club, Wingates Road, off Wigan Lane near to Cherry Gardens Pub and Wigan Hospital. Start is 7:30pm, but allow good time for a long trudge to the start.

The 26th running of the Frank Hodson Saddleworth 6M is on Wednesday at 7:30pm. It is a two lap course around Greenfield Village, starting and finishing at the Churchill Playing Fields, Greenfield near Oldham.

The 'Sting in the Tale' Fell Race is a new event promoted by Matt Donnelly in association with Darwen Dashers. Replacing the Aggies Staircase Race, which was a victim of the foot and mouth restrictions, it is on Thursday (August 9) at 7:30pm. The senior race is four miles long, and a shorter junior race "The Tower Triangle" starts at 6:45pm. Registration is at the Lychgate, Sunnyhurst Lane, Darwen. Entrants before August 4 will receive a T-shirt. The Salford Quays Aquathon on Thursday (9th) is a low key informal event comprising 500m open water swim, 2.5K run, 250m open water swim and 2.5K run. Changing facilities are at the newly opened Salford Water Sports Centre. Race Calendar

Thurs August 2nd: Radcliffe 6.6M Multi-Terrain Sun August 5th: Sale 10M, Chernobyl Challenge 10K (Walton Le Dale), Yorkshire Dales Duathlon, Mesnes Park Family Fun Day 5K and 1M fun run (Wigan) Wed August 8th: Haigh Hall 5M (4), Frank Hodson Saddleworth 6 Thurs August 9th: Sting in the Tail Fell Races (Darwen), Salford Quays Aquathon (swim+run) Fri August 10th: Salford Quays 5K Road Race and 2.5K Fun Run Sat August 11th: Derian House 10K (4) Sun August 12th: Salford Quays Triathlon, Isle of Man Marathon and Half Marathon, Cliviger Lancs Sports Repairs 6M Tues August 14th: Dennis and Henry's Cowm Reservoir 4.2M Road and Trail Race Wed August 15th: Horwich Jubilee 4M (3) Sat August 18th: Darwen Gala 4M Fell Race Sun August 19th: Europrint Blackburn Road Runners 10K (Lancashire Champs) and 2M Fun Run, Birchwood 10K, Tues August 21st: Roger Hargreaves Memorial Race 4M (Rochdale) Sun August 26th: Horwich RMI Triathlon (short and long courses), Preston Women's 10K Mon August 27th: The Brown Wardle Hill and Trail Race 4M, Tues August 28th: The Joe Galvin 5K Fun Run (Littleborough) Wed August 29th: Woodend 4M Night Race (5th of 5) Thurs August 30th: Radcliffe Hospice 5K Trail Race Sun September 2nd: Liverpool International Half Marathon, Kirkham 10K, Pendle Triathlon