Hameldon Hill race date set

The Great Hameldon Hill Race - the first event in the Pendle and Burnley Grand Prix - this year takes place on Sunday, May 4th.
The race first started in 1979The race first started in 1979
The race first started in 1979

This year is the 35th anniversary of the race, which started in 1979.

Organised by Clayton-le-Moors Harriers, the aim was to get local people to have a go at running, following the running boom which took off in the USA in the mid 1970s.

By race day, 371 people had entered and 308 turned up.

Around 90 locals entered.

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The race started at the bottom of Avenue Parade, and finished on Peel Park School field, Accrington.

The winner was Ricky Wilde of Manchester, a renowned fell runner, in a time of 27 minutes 36 seconds.

Ron Hill, who had just turned 40, was eighth overall.

The numbers continued to increase until 1991 when 491 seniors finished, and 105 juniors.

From there, interest started to decline, but last year, 173 seniors completed the event, and 30 juniors.

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This year the race will start and finish at the Peel Park School field, with registration for the race taking place in the Peel Park Hotel, Turkey Street, Accrington.

The senior race is 9.6 kilometres, with 338 metres of climbing, starting at noon, with a minimum age of 16.

Entry is £5, and more details are on www.pendleandburnleygrandprix.co.uk