It was all about the mud and rain this week as Radcliffe AC runners braved the worst of Storm Bert in cross-country, half-marathons, and 10k races.

The club were represented by seniors and juniors on Saturday at the muddier than usual Sefton Park Cross Country, part of the Red Rose Cross-Country League.

In the seniors’ 8km race, Karen Doherty was first lady for Radcliffe in 49mins 9secs, followed by Kathryn Davies (49:54), Lucie Tighe (50:26), Louise Shield (51:19), Elaine Bailey (53:56), Laura Aiken (55:16), Charlotte Holden (57:28) and Caroline Malone (1:01:11).

Rob Lister led Radcliffe’s men over the line in 43:44, followed by Dominic Parry (48:24), and Brennan Tighe (49:13).

Skyler ran the junior 2km under-11s’ race in 12:58 and Aoife finished the 3km U13s in 25:19.

Alex Field ran what he described as the hardest race ever on the weekend, being pelted by the wind and rain before, during, and after the Silverstone Half Marathon.

Despite a battering by Storm Bert, Alex Field still managed a very respectable 1:43:56.

Kath Biddle was also on half-marathon duty at the Clowne half - a scenic undulating road race through Derbyshire villages. Biddle managed 2:21:02 on legs just about recovering from her ultra-marathon excursion the week before.

Radcliffe had two runners who just could not wait to get into the Christmas spirit at the Wilmslow Festive 10k on Sunday.

Laura Aiken clocked 57:15, followed by Helen Kay, in 1:08:38.