MAY I thank the many hundreds of people in Blackburn who stepped out to cheer on the runners along the route of this year's Corporate Challenge last Sunday?

In all, there were about 400 competitors ranging from hardy runners, to whom the five-kilometre trek proved child's play, to novices like myself, for whom every step took great effort - especially in the long-overdue summer heat.

Many novice runners like me received great encouragement from onlookers - which may just be enough to convince me to enter for next year's event - if I ever get over the aching limbs.

SUZANNE HALLIWELL, Press Officer, Blackburn with Darwen Council.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.