THIS year's Rivington Pike Race attracted 257 runners in near perfect conditions and the spectators on the course saw a 36-year-old record broken.

A new mark of 17mins 40secs from Rob Hope surpassed the long-standing veteran's record set by one of the country's greatest ever marathon runners, Ron Hill, in 1979.

It was also Hope's seventh Pike Race victory, a post-war record with only T Pat Campbell ahead of him on the all-time list. Hope's first victory came as a 20-year-old back in 1995 wearing the Horwich vest and he was delighted with yet another victory on the hill he has grown up with.

The first Horwich vest to cross the line had travelled much further than Hope.

Ian Conroy, over from Dublin, ran his third consecutive Pike Race – his second in Horwich colours – and achieved his best result to date with a fourth-place finish.

It was great to see Hope's brother Danny, ravaged by injury in recent months but now back in the black and red vest, finish in sixth place.

Horwich's winning men's team was completed by Jonathan Bruton in 14th and Alastair Murray in 16th.

Lindsey Brindle had an emphatic victory in the ladies' race, finishing 21st overall.

Graham Schofield took the V55 honours, while Rudolf Maciejkowicz, more accustomed to road races and making his Pike debut, showed a clean pair of heels to all other V60s and double V70 FRA champion, John Parker swapped places throughout the race with the club's press officer, Gordon Stone – the battle helping John to V70 honours.

Suzanne Budgett took the F50 honours and combined with Lindsey and Erica Booth to take the ladies' team victory.

A guard of honour and a special finishing tape was provided as John Coope became the first Horwich V80 to complete the race – a few seconds outside the record.

At the presentation there was a special award for Kendal's three-time winner Craig Roberts to commemorate his 20th Pike Race and Ron Hill was also mentioned after completing a 39th Pike Races – a run that includes three victories.

Horwich RMI results: 4 Ian Conroy 18:51; 6 Danny Hope 19:17; 14 Jonathon Bruton 20:09; 16 Alastair Murray 20:24; 19 Gareth Booth (V40); 21 Lindsey Brindle (F) 21:05; 32 Garry Chadderton (V50) 22;18; 33 Ina Hepburn 22:23; 34 Steven Foley (V45) 22:36; 39 Graham Schofield (V55) 22:51; 52 Dan Gilbert 23:23; 53 Rudolf Maciejkowicz (V60) 23:24; 54 Nick Kelly (V45) 23:28; 56 Paul Boardman (V50) 23:34; 62 Chris Maher (V45) 23:45; 69 Kevin Newall (V40) 23:54; 80 Doug Fleming (V55) 24:17; 83 Suzanne Budgett (F50) 24:33; 100 Richard Pendlebury (V45) 25:24; 112 Erica Booth (F) 26:05; 129 Michael Crook (V65) 26:44; 152 Gordon Stone (V55) 28:00; 153 John Parker (V70) 28:02; 158 David Barnes (V55) 28:10; 173 Brent Brindle (V60) 28:40; 197 Patrick Conroy 30:12; 201 Paul Whitney (V65) 30:35; 208 Lawrence Pinnell (V45) 31:22; 238 Ray Stafford (V70) 35:09; 241 Ed Swift (V65) 36:25; 254 John Coope (V80) 40:01; 256 Andy Ford 40:07. Elsewhere, Rob Jackson took the V45 honours and 12th overall of 175 finishers at the Hollingworth Lake Road and Trail 5km in misty conditions in a time 17:32.

Eight juniors competed in the latest round of the English Junior Fell Championships at Pendle with Cian Healy winning the under-10s' race and Thomas Massey third in the U12 race.