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Radcliffe AC runners were out in force for the first cross country fixture of the season as well as at two 10k races.

Several members made their cross country debuts at Todmorden on Saturday, the first fixture of the Red Rose League.

There was a fantastic turnout of 12 runners in the ladies’ race, with the team finishing fifth. Mia Derbyshire was an impressive 17th on the hilly 5k course in 24:29, followed by Julie Robertson who clocked 25:30

Also running were: Karen Doherty (28:59), Paula Abernethy (29:16), Chemane Golding (29:47), Alison Howarth (30:17), Charlotte Holden (31:38), Lucy Tetler (33:29), Elaine Bailey (34:48), Tracy Wroe (35:13), Helen Kay (35:18) and Louise Shield (36:18).

Craig Norman was the club’s first finisher in 39:59 in the longer men’s race, ahead of Mark Garner (45:53), Ethan Malone (57:14), Peter Warr (1:00:24) and Stephen Crowe (1:08:30).

Results from the junior races were: under-11 girls - Aoife Warr (11:14) and Grace O’Donnell (11:14); under-13 boys - Oliver Swan (12:51); under-15 boys - Duncan Whalley (18:01).

Several members doubled up by taking part in one of two 10k races on Sunday.

Ian Swan led home the 15-strong contingent at Knutsford 10k in a new personal best of 41:59. Part of the club’s road and trail championship, it was held on closed country roads and is billed as one of the fastest courses in the North West.

There were also PBs of 43:21 for Mark Taylor and 43:29 for Adam Wills. Other times in humid conditions were: Mia Derbyshire (44:05), Mark Garner (45:45), Steven Fawcett (46:59), Charlene Leyden (47:38 pb), Sheila Jones (49:49), Paula Abernethy (50:21), Karen Doherty (52:50), Kathryn Davies (54:55), Elaine Bailey (59:55), Helen Kay (1:02:13), Stephen Crowe (1:03:59) and Caroline Malone (1:04:27).

Closer to home, there were great performances at the hillier Bury 10k, which started and finished on The Rock and took in part of the Kirklees Trail.

Marc Taylor clocked 42:06 to finish in 34^th in wet conditions followed by Paul Benson in 48:48. There was a great pb of 49:02 for under-17 Robbie Parkinson who smashed his previous mark by two and a half minutes.

Martin Archer’s 49:08 was four minutes faster than last year and other results were: Dominic Parry (49:43), Ken Smith (52:34), Ethan Malone (56:57), Charlotte Holden (58:01), Lucy Tetler (1:00:57), Peter Warr (1:02:14), Louise Shield (1:05:43), Natalie Hitchen (1:08:59) and Sara Parry (1:19:10).

Meanwhile Katherine Biddle posted a great performance when she was the third woman in 2:13:25 at the Stanwick Lakes Half Marathon, held at Stanwick Nature Reserve in Northamptonshire. 

With such a busy week of racing, fewer members than usual were at the Saturday morning 5k parkruns.

Four were at Heaton Park where Mark Taylor ran 21:59 and Sheila Jones was first VW65 in 23:57. Sheila McNulty clocked 32:27 and Sara Parry bagged a new personal best of 39:22.

Results from elsewhere: Bolton – Natalie Hitchen (36:34); Haigh Woodland – Helen Kay (29:34); Hyde – Mia Derbyshire (25:21); Market Harborough - Katherine Biddle (26:46); Peel – Tracy Wroe (56:40 volunteer tail walker); Phoenix – Stephen Crowe (30:06).