Ben Fish won the 20th Anniversary Accrington Road Runners 10k Road Race in 31 minutes and 33 seconds, one of the fastest times in the history of the event.

On a mild and still day, almost 400 runners lined up on Burnley Road enticed by the prospect of a tour through Huncoat, Altham and Clayton.

Surprisingly, Blackburn Harrier Fish had never entered before, but he took the two-mile climb from Altham to Clayton-le-Moors in his long stride.

It is a measure of his current form that Steve Littler of Wesham Road Runners, the best of a strong supporting cast, was left nearly two minutes behind.

Maybe Fish is capable of breaking Pete Banks' long-standing course record of 31:07 in due course, but next on the agenda for the Blackburn ace is a representative cross country race for the North of England at Tilburg, Holland on November 12.

Second local runner home in sixth overall was Mick Nester of Blackburn Road Runners who was the over 50 veteran winner in 34:42.

Clayton Harriers Mark Brown and Phil Hall followed in seventh and eighth with Hall winning the over 45 class by three seconds from Alan Alty of Chorley Harriers in 35:24.

The home club's leading athlete Brent Hoggan rounded off the top ten. Former Accrington Road Runner, Evan Cook, was back on familiar territory to win the over 55s in 37:34, 19th and a single place ahead of the first junior Shane Russell of Rossendale Harriers.

Cook was a member of the winning Blackburn Harriers team along with Fish and 15th placed Mark Almond.

Richard Blakeley from Todmorden Harriers clocked 43:24 and Accrington's Steve Davies 49:59 to take the over 60 and over 65 divisions.

The women's race was won by Joan Jackson, the Northern Vet from Denton. Her time of 41:20 put her 57th outright in a field of 392, an outstanding performance from an athlete in her 50s.

Darwen Dashers' Sue Corsini set a personal best of 42:06 on a circuit not known for fast times, to finish third and first over 40. With Zoe Haslam in close attendance, fourth in 42:13, and Janine Fallon 11th, the Dashers won the team prize in a race that was a counter for their club championship.

Dany Robson of Clayton placed sixth, Rachel Wood of Blackburn Harriers was the leading junior with eighth in 44:04 and Todmorden Harrier Kath Brierley claimed the over 45 award.