The annual four-mile trail race staged by Blackburn Road Runners through Witton Park is a surprisingly difficult challenge as it climbs to the top of Billinge Woods, and it took a man with a top fell running pedigree to fend off a sustained effort from Blackburn Harrier Lee Passco.

Lee Cook, who ran as a junior for Rossendale Harriers, is the son of Cheryl Cook who won the English Fell Champ-ionships for Clayton-le-Moors Harriers in 1990. Cheryl later specialised in the triathlon, and that is where Lee’s career is currently taking him, although on this form he shouldn’t discount the fells.

His problem in Witton Park was that there is a long flat finish on tarmac and an enthusiastic chase by Passco gave him no respite.

At the end there was just three seconds in it, with Cook registering 24:32 and the pair had to wait nearly two minutes before Brian Fogarty claimed third for Blackburn Harriers. The Harriers packed four into the top 10, with Roger Schultz seventh and Joseph Massey ninth while Darwen Dashers were sixth and tenth with Mark France and Nigel Barnes.

The local theme was continued with Accrington Road Runners’0 John Wieczorek and Adrian Nicholls coming next with Red Rose’s first counter John Shepherd 14th.

Blackburn’s England Junior Fell International Rachel Searson was far too good for her opponents, winning the women’s race by six minutes in 32:09.

Jennifer Adams of Accrington RR in third was the winning over 55 veteran.