THERE are still 227 possible winners after the first three races in the Pendle and Burnley Grand Prix.

But Gary Shaw and Molly Ralphson continue to set a hot pace.

The two have led from the start, having been first home in the Great Hameldon Hill race, and now Shaw heads the men’s standings by 11 points while Molly has an eight point advantage over the other women.

The 12-race series tests the athletes over a variety of surfaces, and after that first hill race, they have tried the multi-terrain of Pinhaw Moor at Earby and a mix of track and road in a new race, the Wholan Nook in Burnley.

The differing conditions underfoot have made little difference to Mollie, who runs for Trawden Athletic Club, as she set a new record at Pinhaw Moor to beat GB Cani-Cross pick Victoria Mousley by well over a minute.

It was the same 1-2-3 in Burnley with an inaugural race record being set by Ralphson and consecutive third places for Nicola Wood, Mousley’s Accrington club mate.

With Victoria missing the opener, Nicola is second in the series, but with ten from 12 results to count athletes like Mousley who have missed one or two races, can still challenge.

That brings into contention Clayton’s Katie Trickett and Jackie Redmayne from Chorley Harriers, who were second and third at Hameldon with Redmayne boosting her chances further with fourth in Burnley.

Predictably it hasn’t been such plain sailing for Clayton-le-Moors Harrier Shaw as a traditionally very competitive men’s series tends to throw up different winners at nearly every venue.

The defending champion was a model of consistency in 2009, and there is a similar pattern so far this season as he has yet to finish outside the top three.

Tom and Jos Addison, who were first and second at Pinhaw, are unlikely to make a bid for the title as they run for Helm Hill Harriers, but Marc Hartley, who relegated Gary to second in his home town of Burnley, was the 2008 Grand Prix winner and could yet feature.

Andy Preedy took third in the Wholan Nook Race, his highest of the series, and now sits second overall – replacing his Rossendale club mate Steve Clawson who missed this one after previous second and fourth places.

Clayton’s Sean Clare, in third outright, leads the veterans ahead of Blackburn Harrier Gary Pearse, who is fifth while Clayton prospect Aidan Holgate is the pick of the juniors in fourth.

Mark Wightman is the leading over 50 for the Clayton club, Trawden’s Robert Smith is ahead in the over 55s, Todmorden Harrier Ian Stansfield tops the over 65s and Clayton’s Ron Chappell and Ted Orrell are currently first in the over 60s and over 70s.

Ted set a course record for his age group at Pinhaw as did team-mate Jean Rawlinson who leads the over 55 women in the series.

Already only six women have run in every race, but they include Clayton Harriers Sue Allen and Christine Leathley, leaders in the over 50 and over 60 age bands. l The fourth round of the Pendle and Burnley Grand Prix will be the Burnley Lions 10K Road Race at Colne.

It will be on Friday May 28 at 7pm and follows a two-lap course from Colne Cricket Club (BB8 0RF). Entries will be accepted on the night.