A RECORD number of runners made the 50th anniversary of the Rivington Pike Fell Race being open to all runners a memorable occasion.

The race, organised by Horwich RMI Harriers, is the oldest open fell race in the country and the second oldest fell race in the country.

It dates back to 1882, when it was restricted to Horwich RMI Harriers members, before being thrown open to any runners from anywhere half a century ago.

To mark the anniversary, 36 past winners returned to the scene of their glory, 17 of them competing and the rest to watch the record 431 entrants.

The past winners included former top British athlete, 66-year-old Ron Hill, who won it three times in the 1960s, and 1959 winner, Gerry North who, at 68 years old, was the oldest past winner to compete.

The oldest past winner who was present at the race was 81-year-old Frank Gratton, who won the first race to be run after the Second World War.

In the last few years the event has attracted impressive fields of more than 250 runners as it continued to build its popularity.

This year took on a real carnival atmosphere as runners flooded to take part on the anniversary and huge crowds turned out to cheer them on.

The RMI Cup, which has been awarded to the first Horwich runner since the race was a closed competition, was won by Darren Kay, who came seventh in 18mins 31secs.

Rob Hope, from Pudsey and Bramley, won the race, and the Moss Challenge Trophy, in a time of 17mins 46secs.

The Doris Moss trophy, awarded to the first lady, was won by Mary Wilkinson, of Skipton AC, in a time of 20mins 18secs.

The £50 cash prize and the Cyril Hodgson Cup, for the first runner to reach the Pike tower, was won by eventual race winner Hope, in a time of 10mins 40secs.

Mary Wilkinson won the £50 cash prize for the first lady to reach the tower in a time of 12mins 50secs.

Results: Men's winner: Rob Hope; 7th D. Kay (Horwich RMI); Men Over-50 S. Jackson (Horwich RMI); Men Over-55 T. Hesketh (Horwich RMI); Men Over-75 A. Robinson (Horwich RMI); Ladies winner: M. Wilkinson (Skipton AC); 2 K. Ingram (also junior lady winner) (Horwich RMI); 4 A. Washington (Leigh Harriers); Ladies Over-40 J. Rashleigh (Horwich RMI); Ladies Over-65 winner L. Smal (Horwich RMI); Junior Ladies 5th R. Thompson (5th) (Horwich RMI). Men's team: 1st Horwich RMI (Kay, Schofield, S. Jackson). Men's Vets team: 1st Horwich RMI (Schofield, Barlow, D Massey). Ladies teams: 1st Horwich RMI (Rashleigh, Ingram, Thompson). Ladies Vets team: 1st Horwich RMI (Rashleigh, Budgett, Sweatman).