ON a very warm summers evening, the RADSAC sports week continued with the annual Holcombe Two Towers fell race.

Course organizer David Archer had already been out to correctly position all the flags before his team of marshals dispersed to the far flung corners of the course, which was modified last year to eliminate the road finish, and this change to an all off-road course has started to enhance the reputation of this well established race.

Despite the attraction of the football on the television, entries were up on last year, as the 77 entrants were away on time from the side of the Hare & Hounds.

In the ladies race, the considerable talents of Vanessa Peacock eclipsed all challengers for the women's title.

Vanessa was almost five minutes clear of second place Donna Allen, who was being pushed hard by her young team-mate Carly Hancock.

Carly faded slightly towards the last climb, which allowed Bolton's Judith Bellis to nip in for third place.

The other local runner in the race, Denise Sutcliffe, was also a category winner in her age group.

Fromer champion Wajib Ali was up there with two others by the time the reached the tower for the first time, with Bury's Neil Coe hanging on not far behind.

Wajib managed to pull away from Brendan Bolland before the return to the tower, and then he was never going to lose the lead on the steep but rough decent to the finish.

Close behind Brendan was his Horwich team-mate, Chris Seddon, with Neil Coe from Bury AC fourth.

Another Bury AC member not used to the fells but who ran well, was Pete Bates, 12th and winner of his age category.

John McIntosh was 41st and John Young, another who has only recently discovered the adventure that is fell running, was 60th. The evergreen John Griffin, completed the Bury AC contingent in 64th position.