Stage is set for RibbleValley 10k race

The race goes back over 30 years, when Clayton Le Moors Harriers, Ron Hill’s club, first organised the event in the winter as the Clitheroe 10k, parallel with their Clitheroe 10-mile road race held in the spring.

Although the 10-miler fell by the wayside, the 10k race survived.

Blackburn Harriers took over the organisation of the race in 1998 at a time when entry numbers were only at the 300 mark.

It needed a boost, which was provided by main sponsors Forbes Solicitors, and in turn Sweatshop, who helped the Harriers improve the prize list and provide free t-shirts for all entrants.

The competition at the front increased in quality and times came down to regular sub 30-minute clockings for the men, and Olympian Helen Clitheroe herself regularly going under 33 minutes for the women.

The women’s course record is now held by her at 32 minutes 30 seconds, and in the men’s race by Jonny Mellor at 29 minutes 10 seconds in 2011, outsprinting Alistair Brownlee, the 2012 Olympic triathlon champion.

The fields are now over a thousand with a record number of entrants in 2012 of almost 1,500.

For entry details, go to www.ribblevalley10k.com/information/