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Radcliffe runner Simon Foulkes swapped The Rock in Bury for the Rock of Gibraltar!

He clocked 1:34:57 at the Gibraltar International Half Marathon – knocking nearly six minutes off the time he posted in last week’s Estepona Coastal Trail Half Marathon in Spain.

Closer to home, Sheila Jones continued to notch up the wins when she was first VW65 at the hilly Blacksticks Blue 10k on Sunday.

She ran 49:31 in glorious weather on the picturesque but testing course on the country lanes around Beacon Fell in Preston. Karen Doherty knocked nearly five minutes off her course personal best, clocking 58:19 on the route which starts with a three-mile uphill stretch.

Natalie Hitchen and Sarah Rushton both ran 1:10:52 and all the participants received a pack of Blacksticks Blue cheese.

Doherty chalked up two races in two days when she was among the quartet of Radcliffe runners at the Hierro Trail Race in Hurst Green. A new event, the course  was approximately 4.2 miles and had a bit of everything, from hilly trails to muddy fields.

Rob Shiels was eighth overall and first VM45 in 31:27, Peter Hunter ran 37:44, Doherty was third VWF45 in 44:44 and Elaine Bailey ran 48:19 to take first VW60.

Shiels was also in action at the midweek Clowbridge 5k, the finishing part of a three-week series of races around the reservoir of the same name in Burnley. He was tenth in 19:48, winning his age group for the second week in a row.

Ian Swan took on two river crossings at the popular and picturesque Yarrow Bluebell Trail 10k course. Although he was not happy with his time of 54.46 on the tough, technical course, he was a fantastic 31st overall and second MV40.

Radcliffe athletes were once again in action at the popular Saturday 5k parkruns. At Bolton, Ken Smith was first VM65 in 24:23 and Kathryn Davies was first VW55 28:57.

In the other local parkrun at Heaton Park, Sheila Jones was again first in her age group in 23:10, Robbie Parkinson was first JM11-14 in 23:39 and Helen Kay ran 30:31.

Results from elsewhere were: Barrow, Rob Lister (eighth in 21:05); Peel, Mike Kontowtt (first VM55 20:18) and Caroline Malone (29:02); Sutton Manor, Bev Quinton 39:22.

Say ‘cheese’. Blacksticks Blue 10k runners (from left) Karen Doherty, Sheila Jones, Natalie Hitchen and Sarah Rushton.

Making a splash. Ian Swan with his Yarrow Bluebell Trail 10k Medal. 

Hierro Trail runners (from left) Peter Hunter, Karen Doherty, Rob Shiels and Elaine Bailey.