NEAL Emmerson made it two wins in a row when he led home a strong contingent of 18 Radcliffe AC runners at the Gin Pit 5-Mile Trail Race on Sunday.
He clocked 28mins 39secs to take the victory by more than a minute – a week after winning the Rochdale Half-Marathon – and was part of the winning men's team with Robert Short, who was eighth in 31:52, and Craig Norman, who finished in 10th in 32:31.
Katie Percival was third woman in 35:34, with some runners doubling up from cross country the day before.
The event was the penultimate race in the Central Lancs Grand Prix in which Radcliffe have been battling with several other clubs for race points throughout the season.
Other results: Chris Paxton (15th) 33:26, Mark Williams 36:08, Mark Garner 36:34, Dave Rushton 37:30, Peter Cook (third Vet-60) 38:56, Kirsten Cook (second Vet-55) 44:18, Chris Fletcher 45:17, Elaine Bailey (second Vet-60) 47:05, Andy Wheeler 48:19, Mike Scott 49:39, Emma Wolstencroft 49:43, Lucy Tetler 50:24, Sarah Rushton 51:03, Iain Harris (second Vet-70) 57:21.
Nine joined the thousands pounding the streets of the city when they took on the Greater Manchester Half-Marathon on Sunday, starting and finishing at Emirates Old Trafford.
On a flat route billed to be one for good times with a great atmosphere, Matt Grice ran 1:33:35.
Other results: Amanda Callan 1:54:22, Lucy Dewhurst 2:16:36, Tracy Wroe 2:17:02PB, Deborah Barrington 2:19:36, Debi Warrington 2:24:31, Emma Wallace 2:38:39, Amanda Darbyshire 2:47:06, Natalie Hitchen 2:49:52.
Two took on what is billed as the "toughest half-marathon" when they completed the muddy and hilly HellRunner event at Delamere Forest, which is peppered with water features and is rough under foot.
Lee Cooper and Sharon Peterkin tackled features such as the Bog of Doom, Hills of Hell and Lucifer's Lido, with Cooper finishing in 2:51:33 and Peterkin was pleased with her time of 4:43:04.
There was also a great turnout in the first Saturday race in the Red Rose Cross Country League at Leigh Sports Village with Donna Cartwright finishing 14th out of 150 women in 22:10 and Ian Warrington 44th out of 170 in the men's race in 38:28. Elaine Bailey was first Vet-60 in 31:28.
It was the first taste of cross country for some members and three juniors also took part. Olivia Whittaker finished well in 38th in 9:56 in the under-11 girls' race, Finlay Percival ran 14:15 in the u13s boys' race and Daisy Percival clocked 19:30 in the u15 girls' race.
Also running in the women's race were Hayley Winder who clocked 24:58, Victoria Glossop (26:35), Gail Champion (32:06), Sarah Rushton (32:17), Emma Wolstencroft (32:20), Lucy Tetler (32:21) and Bev Quinton (41:12).
In the men's race, Dave McGrath ran 38:53.
Other results: John Wrigley 41:11, Mark Williams 42:32, Andy Haines 43:04, Dave Rushton 44:53.
The men's team were 10th and the women's team 12th.
Lisa Carter was in action on the hills when she took on the tough ascent and descent of Kirk Fell in the Wasdale Show Fell Race. She completed the 2.4 miles with around 2,500 feet of ascent in 1:10:00.
Lee Turner received an engraved glass plaque for finishing third Vet-50 in the Run the Moors Fell Grand Prix.
He was among several club members who attended the championship’s presentation evening which was hosted by Radcliffe AC at St Mary’s Social Club.
Several clubs race in the grand prix, a series of 12 fell events of various distances held throughout the season.
The guest speaker was passionate fell runner Adam Briggs, who described his love of the sport and how he took it up despite having had a heart transplant as a child.
In an inspiring talk, he said his hope was to take on The Bob Graham Round, one of Britain's toughest fell challenges.
Katie Percival, Mark Wolfenden and Paul Swyers also received engraved glasses after running enough races to qualify for the championship.
Fiona Lynch received her Bob Graham 24-Hour Club certificate at the weekend after becoming the first woman in the club to complete the Lake District challenge in June 2018. With 24 hours to cover its 66 miles, 42 summits and its 26,000 feet of climbing, she finished the circular route at Keswick's Moot Hall in 23:12:00.
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