Report and photos: Jane Woodburn

An amazing 89-year-old Lathom man made the running in the 50th Parbold Hill race on Saturday!

Dennis Adelsberg took his place on the starting line with another 400 plus competitors who ran amid the threat of Storm Dennis; competitors came from as far afield as Wimbledon in the south and Perth in the north to tackle the infamous hills and mud, with 428 runners finishing the race.

It was won in 43 minutes by Jon-Jo Doherty of St Helen’s and Sutton AC with Katherine Klunder of Chorley AC and Tri taking the women’s title in 53 minutes; the Endurance Store team won the men’s prize, while Skelmersdale Boundary Harriers took the women’s team prize.

The race is organised by Skelmersdale Boundary Harriers, under the leadership of Andy Dalton, a member of the club and son of Derek Dalton, who had the idea for the first race.

In 1970 a ‘friendly’ race was held when local clubs - harriers vs cyclists - were invited to take part. Derek, a member of Liverpool Boundary Harriers as it was then, competed in the ‘friendly’, but was injured in a motorbike accident before the first official race in 1971.

Dennis, current president of Skelmersdale Boundary Harriers who's 90 in March was the oldest competitor - he's competed in the 1st and 50th races (as well as many in between). Stan Cottier (Liverpool Running Club) also took part in both, and Albert Knowles, who raced in the 1st event, was official starter, with 16-year-old Joe Cook of Skelmersdale Boundary Harriers the youngest participant.