THE 17-mile long Tour of Pendle takes place on Saturday. Start is from Barley Village Hall at 10:30am. No entries will be accepted on the day, so for late availability please check first with organiser Kieran Carr on 01254-822618.

Youngsters in the Pendle area will be running in the Pendle Schools Cross Country Championships at West Craven High School, Kelbrook Road. Reward for the leading finishers will be a place in the Lancashire Schools Champs. Races start at 9:30am on Saturday.

Sunday's Preston 10M road race incorporates the Lancashire Championships. It starts at 10am from Hutton Grammar School, and you don't have to be an elite athlete or even a Lancastrian to run. The Burnden 10K at Bolton also kicks off at 10am on Sunday. Registration is at Burnden Park Gym, Manchester Road and the race starts at Orlando Bridge. It is the final race in the inter club Central Lancs Grand Prix which Chorley Harriers contest.

The first of this winter's Sports Hall Athletics fixtures is at Stanley Park in Blackpool on Sunday. Registration is at 11am with the competition starting at midday.

The third round of the Reebok Cross Challenge on Sunday is at Margate. Despite the distance, a number of our top runners will be there as it incorporates the European Championship Trial.