BLACKBURN Road Runner Joshua Crowther claimed second in the Through the Villages Race last weekend with the East Lancashire ace clocking 49 minutes 32 seconds.

It was a strong run from Crowther but wasn't quite enough to earn him top spot with Ben Johnson (Southport Waterloo) crossing the line first in 45mins 38secs.

There was a fine run from Chorley AC and Triathlon Club's Finty Royle as she finished second in the female race with a time of 58mins 9secs but did win the junior female prize.

Rossendale Harrier Anne-Marie Hindle was just three seconds behind Royle to be the third female home and first in the F45 category.

The race, which is run over an 8.4mile distance, takes place in Chorley and saw 360 people take part.

There was plenty of East Lancashire representation with Clayton-le-Moors Harrier Luke Turner fourth overall after clocking 50mins 57secs whiles Chorley's Tom Belcher came in a place behind him in 51mins 37secs.

First in the M40 category was Andrew Payne of Ribble Valley Harriers who stopped the watch in 51 minutes exactly. Chorley's Dan Edwards was fourth in that age group in 55mins 31secs.

His clubmate Dominic Raby was second in the M45 bracket with his time of 52mins 43secs which was enough for 10th overall.

Darwen Dashers' Martin Oldfield won the M50 event with a time of 54mins 26secs while the M55 race was won by Alan Lundberg-Bury of Rossendale who finished eighth overall after posting a time of 51mins 49secs.

In 100th place overall and third in the M60 category was David Howard, running for Trawden, after he crossed the line in 60mins 6secs with Clayton-le-Moors' Alan Clarkson fifth in that group (66mins 45secs).

Stephen Biscomb claimed first place in the M65 race when he finished in 65mins 31secs.

Chorley's Nicola Raby was second in the F40 section after clocking 66mins 35secs while Helen Hyder, running for Ramsbottom, fourth in 68mins 34secs.

Ramsbottom's Lesley Heyes was second F50 home in 66mins 18secs which placed her 115th overall while Ramsbottom's Janet Campbell claimed victory in the F55 category in a time 74mins 46secs.

Clayton-le-Moors Harrier Julia Rushton claimed third in that category in 75mins 8secs while Darwen Running Group's Heather Laycock was fourth in 76mins 23secs.

Cecilia Woods (Ramsbottom Running Club) was fourth in the F60 category in 70mins 42secs.