Perhaps some people were saving themselves for Bradwell or recovering from the weekend. More likely was that they weren't sure of the date which wasn't confirmed until about two weeks before the event. For whatever reason this race went against the trend and attracted a smaller field but that was no bad thing because the climb can be one of the most congested of the local races. The now emigrant Patterson returned from darkest Lancashire to record a Dark Peak victory.

M.P.

124 starters