11-03-19 Update

Craig Norman battled snow, hail, strong winds and rain to win The Jackals 10k race.

The Radcliffe AC runner said it was the worst race conditions had faced after taking victory on the trail course in Darwen in 56:30.

It topped his second place in the same race last year, and follows his third place in January’s Holcombe Howler trail 10k.

Christopher Burke and Mark Garner also ran The Jackals, with Burke finishing 12th in 1:06:35 and Garner 22nd in 1:10:28

And there was more success for members who triumphed over horrendous weather in a busy week for the club.

Jenny Yates continued her winning form by finishing first Vet-50 in “brutal” conditions in the Irwell Valley 20 Mile race.

Running with clubmate Kris Lee, they clocked 2:51:03 on the off-road course which starts at Drinkwater Park in Prestwich.

Yates said: “It was brutal with wind, rain, snow, sun and lots of mud. Already wearing knee supports on both knees, I managed to go over on both ankles!”

They were followed by John Gibbs in 3:07:07. Sharon Peterkin continued to improve with a course personal best of 4:11:18 and Amanda Darbyshire ran 4:20:53.

Three ran the Roddlesworth Roller 9k from Abbey Village, Chorley with Donna Cartwright finishing fourth woman and first Vet-40 in 42:00.

On an undulating course of trails and paths, Paul Swyers clocked 42:20 to finish fifth Vet-50 and Kathryn Davies was fifth Vet-55 in 53:46.

Lisa Carter battled hail in the tough 32-mile Haworth Hobble Fell Race in West Yorkshire, finishing in 07:53:12.

Lee Turner and John Andrew had better conditions when they also took to the hills in Cumbria for the challenging Black Combe Fell Race. The 8.1-mile route has 3,500ft of climbing with Turner finishing in 1:49:47 and Andrew in 2:05:49.

Helen Andrew contended with howling gales and hail at the Liverpool Half Marathon, clocking 1:42:34, while Stevie Blaylock ran the Chester 10K in 57:36, going under the hour for the first time.

Andy Wheeler and Natalie Hitchen crossed the line at a wet and windy Trafford 10k in 01:02:44 and 01:03:40 respectively.

It was also a busy week for Radcliffe AC Juniors with three members competing in the Bury Primary Schools Cross Country at St Gabriel’s High School.

Samuel Howard finished a great second in his race, brother Arthur claimed an 82nd place finish and Fleur Carter was 23rd in her age group.

Samuel also notched up a personal best of 23:48 in the 5K Great Run Local at Burrs while Arthur matched his PB of 10:30 in the 2km race.

Lachlan Burke was third in the 5k Great Run Local at Salford Quays in 20:11 and sister Lacey won the 2k race in 09:36.

Away from the racing, the junior section successfully secured £1,500 for coaching and equipment from Bury Council’s Pitch fund. They were among the local community groups which “pitched” for funding at Radcliffe United Reformed Church, with the audience voting for the ones they wanted to receive money.

In the popular 5k parkruns, Chris Whittaker finished fourth at Heaton Park in 18:33. Also running were Nick Barnes 24:23; Peter Hunter 26:18; Amanda Callan 28:25; Jenny Yates 28:25 and Deborah Warrington 31:45.

At Bolton, Paul Swyers ran 22:28 and junior Isabel Hockenhull 29:00.

Vince Aston notched up his 67th Parkrun location with a time of 34.55 dressed as a pirate at Rosliston in South Derbyshire.