PHIL Marsden netted a brilliant bronze in the first of Rossendale Harriers’ Lee Mill fell races.

Covering 10k and 1100ft of climbing, boggy conditions, with waist deep pools of water in parts, made for some interesting moorland running before a sting in the tail with some very steep climbs in the fifth mile.

Calder Valley’s Ben Mounsey destroyed the field in 42mins 19secs, but a great battle for ensued for the next three spots, with Marsden clocking 47:16 behind Horwich’s Nick Leigh.

Also midweek, Andrew Doyle collected ninth position at the Cock Hill Wood fell race after a wrong turn in the final 200m deprived him of eighth by three seconds to Horwich’s Paul Hesketh.

The course of 5.4k and 339m of ascent was completed in 28:53.7.

Blue Vests also competed in an equally tough fell race at the weekend, the Turnslack FR.

Nick Howarth described the 8.33 miles and 1750ft ascent as, “a real up and downer, with near vertical hills – enough to give you vertigo”.

Andrew Doyle again did exceptionally well in warm conditions for seventh (79:12), whilst Howarth (92:38 – 42nd) pipped Daryl Bentley by 16 seconds. Ian Smith (94:56) was 59th of the field of 75.

Elsewhere, M60 Ken Fowler was among the Northern Masters at Leigh Sports Village, whose 5,000m track meeting was extended to two races as held 40 competitors turned out.

Ages 35-59 went in race one, whilst those aged 60-plus were in race two.

Three runners blasted out at a pace too quick for Fowler, so he held back by 15 metres for four laps (first mile 5:43).

The next four laps saw him latch on to the group, with two cracking before the leader gave way with 2.5 laps to go.

At 500m, a small gap appeared and the final lap saw him unleash to collect gold in 19:15.6 – an average of 6:13 per mile in what he described as possibly the best tactical race he had ever run.