HYNDBURN worker Rob Hope made it a hat-trick of wins at the Great Hameldon Hill Race on Sunday but missed out on £50 by just eight seconds.

That was the total on offer for a record breaking run.

Rob was trying to break his own record which he set last year on the six mile race but finished in 36 minutes 20 seconds - the record is 36.12.

But former Clayton-le-Moors Harriers athlete Beverley Whitfield, daughter of well-known local runner Peter McWade, was in the money after she did race to a new course record.

Bev, who now competes for Bingley Harriers, smashed the ladies record, set in 2003, by two minutes 57 seconds in 44.48 with a fantastic run.

The first local runner home was Clayton's Mark Aspinall in 39.01 and he finished fourth of the 150 who started the annual race which is sponsored by the Observer.

The men's team prize, however, went over the border to Yorkshire as Rob, from Pudsey and Bramley AC, brother Danny - who finished second a minute behind Rob - and Paul Sheard, in fourth spot, picked up the team prize. Paul was also the first veteran runner to finish.

The second lady finisher and first female veteran was Cecilia Greasley from Cheshire Hill Racers and she also beat the previous record time in 46.01. Clayton-le-Moors Harrier, Anna Kelly, winner of last year's race, was third lady and second female veteran (48.17).

Third veteran home for the ladies was Debbie Gowans of Accrington Road Runners, whose club last week celebrated its 20th anniversary (49.49).

Alison Hope, Accrington Road Runner and third lady in the over 50 category last year, achieved a similar award again this year (1.08.12).

The Ladies team prize was won by Darwen Dashers and Clayton-le Moors took the veteran's team prize.

Of the 150 starters, all but one finished with 100 of the runners in the veteran classes. There was four runners over 60 and three over 70 years of age.

The local team prizes were taken by Sportlife Gym, winners of last year's event, with Glen Mitchell (48.22), Soloman Whittaker (49.26) and Steve Dewhurst (50.21) their first three runners.

The Peel Park Pub took the second team prize with Pete Hartley (52.05), Michael Toman ( 55.23) and Steve Plummer (58.43) the counters.

The category for local runners is open to people who are not members of an athletic club.

In this category the first three men were Glen Mitchell (48.22), David Croll (48.57) and Bernard McHugh (49.17), a previous winner of the award.

The awards for the local ladies went to Deborah Timmins (57.14) , Caroline Parsons (1.03.51) of the Sportlife Gym, and Elouise Culshaw (1.07.20), an award winner in 2003.

The presentation of prizes was made by Clayton Harrier's Mark Brown, Paralympic silver and bronze medallist in the marathon, and Harry Walker, three times winner of the Three Peaks Fell Race.

The junior race for youngsters under 16 years of age attracted a field of 20 runners, including three from Halifax.

The Great Hameldon Hill race was part of a year of fund-raising by a team of seven from Clayton Harriers which will culminate in the Everest Marathon in November. They are raising money for disabled athletes and are well on their way to £50,000.

The next event is the Roger Hargreaves Memorial 5m Trail Race in Foulridge on Wednesday 15 June at 7pm.

Contact www.everestchallenge.co.uk .