MARK Aspinall and Garrie Prosser led host club Rossendale Harriers to the team award in the Rossendale Half Marathon, but were unable to prevent veteran Tony Duffy from taking victory for the fourth successive year, writes ANDY McALLISTER.

Prosser stayed with Duffy for the first four miles which was mostly uphill, but then slipped back as the Bolton man opened up a decisive two minute lead. Aspinall took up the chase and initially reduced the gap, his effort pulling him clear of the other chasers, but Duffy finished strongly.

Dave Gregory of Clayton took third, with Prosser a fine fourth only a fortnight after completing an Ironman Triathlon. Veterans Thornton Taylor and Phil Taylor in seventh and eighth completed the winning Rossendale team.

Only just 17, Chris White had a wonderful run to finish 12th in the field of 172. Chris joined Rossendale Harriers almost by accident 18 months ago when he agreed to make up the numbers in a relay team, since then he has had a meteoric rise to become the club's athlete of the year.

Blackburn Road Runner Mick Nester (11th) won the M45 class, Chris Domoney (19th) and Eric Duffy (25th) both from Rossendale took the M50 and M55 honours with Brian Scully of Accrington RR winning the M60's. Chris Trickett from sponors J A Taylor of Rawtenstall took a fine 21st position in 1:26.00.

Jennifer Adams was the leading L45 taking second in the ladies race behind Preston Harrier Anne Sweeney. Fourth and fifth were Rossendale Harriers' Karen Taylor and Michelle Dew. Results - Men: 1 (1st M40) Tony Duffy (Bolton) 1:12.29, 2 Mark Aspinall (R) 1:14.28, 3 Dave Gregory (C) 1:15.21, 4 Garrie Prosser (R) 1:16.11, 7 (2nd M40) Thornton Taylor (R) 1:18.07, 8 (3rd M40) Phil Taylor (R) 1:18.56, 9 John Wieczorek (C) 1:19.24, 10 Jose Hernandez-Cadr (T) 1:20..49, 11 (1st M45) Mick Nester (BRR), 12 (1st Junior) Chris White (R) 1:23.00, 13 Gary Taylor (DD) 1:23.25, 16 (3rd M45) Eric Richardson (R) 1:24.00, 17 Nicholas Bower (R) 1:24.48, 18 Adrian Fearnley (A) 1:24.55, 19 (1st M50) Chris Domoney (R) 1:24.58, 20 Greg McDermott (R) 1:25.33, 21 Chris Trickett (R) 1:26.00, 23 Richard Sutcliffe (R) 1:26.27, 25 (1st M55) Eric Duffy (R) 1:27.02, 26 Kenneth Lewis (C) 1:27.02, 34 Mark Roberts (BRR) 1:30.24, 39 Fran Finnerty (BRR) 1:31.09, Dave Hammer (A) 1.33, Mark Chadwick (A) 1.33, 49 Trevor McCoy (R) 1:33,48, Mick Huxley (DD) 1:35.40, 58 John O'Connor (C) 1:36.52, 62 (1st M60) Brian Scully (A) 1:37.42, 67 (3rd M55) Gerard Navan (R) 1:38.50, 80 Phil White (BRR) 1:40.33, 85 Kevin O'Brien (C) 1:41.26, 86 Harry Haseley (A) 1.41, 101 John Mitchell (BRR) 1:44.31, 109 (2nd M60) Brian Newton (A) 1:45.48, 118 Tony Fuller (R) 1:48.06, 124 (3rd M60) Adrian Batson (BRR) 1:49.03, 137 Gordon Robinson (R) 1:54.16, Jim Hoyle (Ramsbottom) 1:54.59.

Ladies: 1 (42nd 1st L40) Anne Sweeney (Preston) 1:31.54, 2 (56 1st L45) Jennifer Adams (RR) 1:36.05, 4 (82 2nd L40) Karen Taylor ($) 1:41.03, 5 (89) Michelle Dew (R) 1:42.23, Gill Craske (A) 1.45, 106 Julie Keys (R) 1:45.26, 126 Dany Robson (C) 1:49.28, 133 Daryl Peter (CH) 1:52.16, 134 Joan Westlake (Ramsbottom) 1:52.59, 157 Christine Navan (R) 2:01.15.

Key: R Rossendale, C Clayton, T Todmorden, BRR Blackburn RR, DD Darwen Dashers, A Accrington RR, RR Red Rose, CH Chorley Harriers.

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