After the race was given English Champion-ship and Lancashire Championship status in 2005, it was back to normal at the Ultimate Outdoors Whittle Pike Fell Race staged at Cowpe Playing Fields last week.

The race reverted back from Saturday to its traditional Wednesday slot, as once again it became part of the Rossendale Midweek Series.

A largely local field of 113 including 27 Rossendale Harriers tackled the 4.5 miles although notably there was a visitor from the Czech Republic, Zdenek Mazal, who finished well up the field.

Appropriately Dale won both team prizes and Cath Wilson was the winning woman for the host club in 50mins 09s.

England International Darren Kay from Horwich RMI Harriers was first home in 38:36, only a few seconds slower than Rob Hope's Championship effort 12 months ago, and there was an outstanding run from Bradford's Steve Oldfield, third outright as an over 50 veteran.

Ian Greenwood from Clayton-le-Moors won the over 40 class with 11th in 43:11 while Rossendale won the over 45s, over 55s and over 65s with Phil Taylor, Ken Taylor and David Dickson.

Todmorden Harriers Jon Wright and Alex Whittem were the leading locals with sixth and seventh in respective times of 41:40 and 42:15, followed closely by Andrew Grenfell and Michael Corbishley in ninth and tenth.

Backing them in 12th and 16th, Brendon Taylor and Phil Taylor clinched the team prize for the hosts.

Shane Russell was the winning under 20 with a superb 17th overall, and he capped a great day by winning one of two pairs of Inov8 fell shoes in the raffle, which were donated by the sponsors.

Two more pairs will be won at next Wednesday's Golf Ball Race. Rossendale also had the first two in the under 18s with Aaron Kelly and Phil Bolton. Evergreen Vanessa Peacock was the only athlete to finish near Cath Wilson in the women's standings, the over 50 World Masters silver medallist finishing second for the Clayton club in 51:52.

Wilson, Heather Parker, who was the winning over-18 woman, and Sharon McGuire combined as Rossendale won their second team prize of the night.

l The last of four races in the Rossendale Midweek Series is the Golf Ball Fell Race on Wednesday evening. It starts at 7pm from the Glory Pub, Commercial Street, Love-clough on the A682 between Rawtenstall and Burnley.