Races
Radcliffe Atheltic Club members take part in lots of races over a variety of distances - from a mile right up to long-distance ultra runs.
Don't be put off if you've never entered a race before; they are for all abilities, great fun and a brilliant way to meet others runners. Radcliffe members are also well known for the way they encourage and support each other!
Every Radcliffe Athletic Club member is eligible to take part in our club championships and there is something for everyone: road, trail, fell and cross country races. Prizes are up for grabs in each age category.
The club also competes in local road/trail, fell and cross country leagues. All abilities can take part and this is a great opportunity earn points for the club.
But you don't need to stick to these races. There are thousands of events each year and part of the fun of the club is hearing what people are up to and being inspired by them.
We also have a proud history of organising our own races which are popular with runners from across Greater Manchester and beyond. These are only possible thanks to our members (along with their friends and family) who volunteer as marshals, car park attendants, on registration and much more. There is always a great atmosphere.
Although they are not classed as "races", each week members take part in the Saturday morning 5k parkruns. They are free, held at lots of locations, great social occasions and you can walk or run.
In addition, the Burrs Community Run at Burrs Country Park, Bury on Sunday mornings is popular with members.
Inspired? Find out more
The club is running three separate championships for members in 2024:
You can choose to take part in one or all of them!
Road and Trail Championship
This year's Road and Trail Championship comprises 25 races. These include the races from the Central Lancashire Grand Prix plus others selected by the club to create a year-round championship with lots of options.
There is something for everyone, from a mile to half marathon. Once again it the championship will include a take-over of the 5k Burrs Community Run. There is also a club coach trip to the Monsal Trail 10k.
Prizes are up for grabs in each age category. Members need to complete a minimum of nine races to qualify for the Road and Trail Championship.
Road and Trail Championship Races 2024
Click on the booking links to enter.
All races subject to change by organisers. Please check dates when booking. Some of these will sell out based on previous years' events.
January
February
Bolton 5km - 11/02/2024
Lostock 6 Mile - 25/02/2024
March
Trotters 5 Mile - 03/03/2024
Salford 10k - 29/03/2024
April
Monsal Trail 10k club coach trip - 06/04/2024
Wray Scarecrow 10k - 27/04/2024
May
Horwich 5.5k - 15/05/2024
June
Dave Telford memorial 5k Dunham Massey - 06/06/2024
Haigh Hall 4 Mile - 12/06/2024
Tour of Tameside Half Marathon - 15/06/2024
July
Black Knight Charge 6 Mile Trail Race - 24/07/2024
August
Rammy Mile - 06/08/2024
Piethorne 10k - 18/08/2024
Rochdale 10k - 20/8/2024 - cancelled
Pennington Flash - 25/08/2024
Monton 5 Miler - 26/08/2024
September
Blackleach - 01/09/2024
Yarrow Splash - 08/09/2024
Worsley Woods Trail Race - 29/09/2024
October
Manchester Half (sold out)- 13/10/2024
Gin Pit - 06/10/2024
Accrington 10k Road Race - 27/10/2024
November
Burrs take over - 03/11/2024
Windmill 10k - 10/11/2024
Last Drop 5k - 17/11/2024
Fell Championship
The Fell Championship comprises the 12 races in the Run the Moor Fell Grand Prix.
Prizes are up for grabs in each age category. Members need to complete a minimum of five races to qualify for the Fell Championship.
See the Run the Moors races below.
Cross Country Championship
The Cross Country Championship usually starts in October. Details will be announced later in the year.
Our races for 2024
Radcliffe AC is delighted to be staging three races in 2024 as part of our 40th anniversary celebrations.
Radcliffe AC Close Park Relays
Sunday 12 May 2024, 10.30am.
Close Park, Radcliffe, Bury, Greater Manchester, M26 2QA.
A fun relay event for teams of four of all abilities. Enjoy food, music and a brilliant atmosphere at Close Park.
Radcliffe AC Multi-Terrain 5km Race
Wednesday 17 July 2024, 7.30pm.
Sedgley Park Rugby Club, Whitefield, Greater Manchester, M45 7DZ.
This evening race on the lovely trails in Philips Park is back by popular demand. The course is fully marked and marshalled.
The race is also part of the Central Lancashire Grand Prix.
Enter the Radcliffe AC Multi-Terrain 5k
Radcliffe AC Multi-Terrain Thirteen Arches Half Marathon
Saturday 2 November 2024, 9.30am.
Sedgley Park Rugby Club, Whitefield, Greater Manchester, M45 7DZ.
This event was very successful last year. The fully-marked and marshalled route takes in the local trails and the "Thirteen Arches" Clifton Viaduct.
Radcliffe Athletic Club competes in the The Central Lancashire Grand Prix (CLGP), a series of 12 rod and trail races hosted and contested by 12 local running clubs.
The races are friendly, vary in length, are suitable for all abilities and are a great introduction to racing.
The club gets points for every person who competes so everyone's performance counts!.
There are individual as well as team prizes to be won, including prizes for everyone that completes a set number of races.
Visit the CLGP website for more information and booking links or follow the CLGP Facebook page.
CLGP races 2024
Sunday 11 February, 9.30am - Bolton 5Km plus CLGP 2023 presentation
Sunday 25 February, 10am - Lostock 6 Mile
Sunday 3 March, 9.30am - Trotters 5 Mile Trail
Wednesday 15 May, 7.30pm - Horwich 6 Mile Trail
Wednesday 12 June, 7.30pm - Haigh Hall 4 Mile
Wednesday 17 July, 7.30pm - Radcliffe 5Km Trail
Tuesday 6 August - Ramsbottom Summer Mile
Sunday 25 August - Pennington Flash 5 Mile Trail
Sunday 1 September - Blackleach 5 Mile Trail
Sunday 29 September 9am - Worsley Woods 5 Mile Trail
Sunday 6 October - Gin Pit 5 Mile Trail
Sunday 17 November 10am - Last Drop 5Km Trail (Race Limit of 200 TBC)
Fell running (running on the hills) is friendly and cheap - most races only cost a few pounds to enter. The views are also stunning.
Don't be put off if you've never tried it before, there is a variety of races suitable for those who are new to the fells up to experienced runners.
Radcliffe Athletic Club competes in the Run the Moors Fell Grand Prix (RTM), a series of 11 fell races throughout the year which are contested by local clubs.
It incorporates a range of fell races from shorter, well-marshalled introductory races to longer, more difficult races aimed at the more experienced fell runner.
Many of the races are local but some are a little further afield to give runners the experience of running in the Lake and Peak Districts.
Individual and team prizes are available and people who completes a minimum of 5 races are guaranteed a prize.
Find out more on the RTM website or join the RTM Facebook page.
RTM races for 2024
3 March - Ian Roberts Memorial
30 March - Rivington Pike
6 April - Wardle Skyline
11 May - The Cake Race
9 June - Knowl Hill
26 June - Eddie's Revenge
21 July - Pete Bland Kentmere Horseshoe
14 August - Pilgrims' Cross
28 August - Holcombe Two Towers
28 September - Five Trigs
6 October - Castle C'Alf
Want to know more?
Find out more about fell running on the Fell Runners Association website.
Cross country is great fun and always a fantastic day out with club! It is also cheap and provides great winter training for all.
If you've never done cross country before, or haven't competed since school, don't be put off - it is for ALL abilities, not just the athletes you see competing on the TV! Every cross country course is different: some are flat; others have hills; there's woods; the odd stream to run through and varying amounts of mud. But they are all thoroughly enjoyable!
Unlike other events, the junior, men's and women's races start at different times so there is always a good atmosphere as teammates cheer each other on.
Red Rose Cross Country League
The Red Rose Cross Country League is a series of four cross country races contested by local running clubs, including Radcliffe, in the autumn/winter. There are individual and team prizes for each category.
Entry costs £15 for ALL four races and can be done via Sportsoft through the Red Rose race results page below. The portal opens on Monday 26th August and closes on Friday 20th September.
Find out more on the Red Rose website and check the Red Rose race results.
Red Rose Cross Country Races for 2024
Saturday 12th October 2024 - Witton Park, Blackburn
Saturday 26th October 2024 - Towneley Park, Burnley
Saturday 23rd November 2024 - Sefton Park, Liverpool
Saturday 30th November 2024 - Marl Pits, Rossendale
Race Start Times
Under 11 Boys: 12.15pm (2km)
Under 11 Girls: 12.30pm (2km)
Under 13 Boys: 12.45pm (2.5km)
Under 13 Girls: 1.00pm (2.5km)
Under 15 Boys & Girls: 1.15pm (4km)
Under 17 Boys & Girls, U20, Senior and Vet. Women: 1.35pm (5km)
U20, Senior & Vet. Men: 2.15pm (10km)
Manchester Area Cross Country League
The Manchester Area Cross Country League (MACCL) is a series of five cross country races contested by Manchester running clubs in the autumn & winter season. There are individual and team prizes for each category.
Entry costs just £6 for ALL five races and can be done through the Sportsoft website. The portal opens on Monday 9th September and closes on Sunday 6th October.
Find out more on the MACCL website.
MACCL Races for 2024-2025
Saturday 12th October 2024 - Heaton Park, Manchester
Saturday 9th November 2024 - Kentworthy Woods, Wythenshawe
Saturday 7th December 2024 - Woodbank Park, Stockport
Saturday 11th January 2025 - Tatton Park, Knutsford
Saturday 8th February 2025 - Kentworthy Woods, Wythenshawe
Race Start Times
Under 11 Girls & Boys: 12.00pm (2.4km)
Under 13 Girls & Boys: 12.15pm (3.5km)
Under 15 Girls & Boys: 12.30pm (5k)
Under 17 Girls & Boys: 12.50pm (6.5km)
Senior, U20 & Vet. Women: 1.30pm (8-9km)
Senior, U20 & Vet. Men: 2.30pm (9-10.7km)
Annual Awards and Christmas Party 2023
Our racing year culminates with our annual awards evening that doubles up as our Christmas party too. It's a time to come together and celebrate one another's successes as well as enjoying one another's company, and maybe having a dance, a drink and possibly having a go at karaoke too!
We hand out numerous awards for the club championship through to some specially chosen awards. Well done to our amazing 2023 award winners for a fabulous season!
President's Shield
Awarded to a member by the Committee for their outstanding contribution to the club.
Current Holder – Louise Shield
Terry Nortley Cup
Awarded to a male member by the Committee for their exceptional achievements in competition.
Current Holder – Mark Garner
Find out more about Terry Nortley
Nellie Halstead Trophy
Awarded to a female member by the Committee for their exceptional achievements in competition.
Current Holder – Mia Derbyshire
Find out more about Nellie Halstead
Jim Rhodes Most Improved Male
The winner of this award is chosen by the committee based on performance at past races and training sessions.
Current Holder – Ethan Malone
Joan West Most improved Female
The winner of this award is chosen by the committee based on performance at past races and training sessions.
Current Holder – Charlotte Holden
Runners' Runner Award
The winner of this award is voted by our members, selecting a member they feel has inspired them, motivated them, or simply have a difference to their running experience.
Current Holder – Karen Doherty
Members' Contribution Award
The winner of this award is chosen by the committee based on an a member's fantastic contribution to the club.
Current Holder – Ian Swan
Eileen Royle Trophy
The winner of this award has competed in the most club championship races.
Current Holders – Karen Doherty & Mark Garner
Outstanding Volunteer Contribution Award
This award is a one off for 2023 to specifically recognise an exceptional contribution from a certain member.
Current Holder – Mervin Maneely
