Ron Hill has filled his career with memorable moments, such as winning his first major gold medal at the European Games marathon in Athens on September 29, 1969.

His 2,289th race marked the 40th anniversary of the day he led Gaston Roelants of Belgium and fellow Brit Jim Alder into the Panathanaiko Stadium and that was marked with a commemorative mug illustrating the occasion for every finisher.

Each year hundreds of athletes, runners and joggers take over Littleborough for the 5k road race to make their own memories of time shared with the ultimate running enthusiast, and a true hero of our sport.

The Annual Ron Hill Birthday Race has been on the racing calendar since the mid 90s, and this year attracted a field of 328 – only just down on last year when Ron hit the landmark of 70. Rossendale Harriers’ 14-year-old Megan Davies upset the odds to be the first woman home in less than 20 minutes.

She has been sharpening her speed at the Heaton Park Saturday races, and Katie Ireland made it 1-2 for Dale winning the U20 class in 20:31.

Three more 14-year-olds from the club finished in close formation as Leah Williamson, Rebecca Flanagan and Megan Solomon all dipped inside 22:30 while 12-year-old Isobel Lewis clocked 24:14.

Ron’s club, Clayton-le-Moors Harriers, fielded eighth placed Gayle Whittaker, who was also second over 35, and Jennifer Adams from his hometown club Accrington Road Runners, was first over 55.

Ian Grime from Essex Beagles won the far from flat race in a rapid 15:53, with Gareth Booth, the Horwich Harrier from Chorley, the first local in fourth in 17:05.

Jordan Beard of Rossendale was eighth and first U18 logging the same time of 17:25 as ninth man Scott Monk representing Blackburn Harriers.

Clayton won two of the veteran classes with 11th placed Phil Hall and David Edmondson in 13th taking the over 45s and over 40s, and it could have been three but for Joe Park of Cheshire who beat Hill in the over 70s.

Ever competitive, Ron said that he had lost too much time flagging the race away before starting from the back.

Hill has had a quieter year in 2009 after his globe trotting to reach his target of racing in 100 countries before he reached 70 had left his house and garden slightly neglected.

He has done a few trail races, notably at Derwent Water and Worsley Woods, but fell badly at the Rombolds Moor race near Ilkley and suspects he may have broken a rib. It didn’t help matters when he tripped again a week later in a fell race at Bradford breaking his wrist.

Still he has continued to run and praised the setting for the new Salford 10k race near the Lowry which he ran three days after Littleborough.

His next competitive outing will be the Woodland Challenge at Huddersfield on October 11. Although he has reached his goal of racing in 100 countries, Ron would still like to do more and is eyeing Albania, Syria, Burma and India. He says he would like to run every day of his life and live to be over 100.

l The Ron Hill 71st Birthday Race has raised more than £1700 for good causes and with some monies still due the final total could be close on £2000. Around £1000 has already been distributed including a donation of £75 to Eleanor and Maureen Laney’s Malawi Fund. In addition, Andy O’Sullivan’s wife Emily is hoping to raise £2000 by running the Fleetwood Marathon next year and a raffle after the race raised £103 towards her target.