NINE Radcliffe AC runners took to the hills for the tough midweek Whittle Pike Fell race from Cowpe village in Rossendale.

Fell running is becoming more popular among members and Rob Andrew led the way in the five-mile event taking 23rd place from the 97 runners and clocking 53 mins 40 secs.

Climbing more than 1,600 feet on the Scout Moor area, he was followed home by David Ward (V40) in 55:20 with Mike Cooke (V40) only two seconds behind in 55:22.

Wayne Jennings ran 57:50 and Fiona Lynch (V40)), getting her first taste of fell running with the club, clocked 1:03:00.

Steve Hamer (V55) ran 1:04:22, Mark Wolfenden (V45) 1:04:36, Sinead Hayes 1:09:40 and Phil Wolfenden 1:14:25.

In the Astley Park 4.4-mile Trail Race at Chorley, Steve Lomax was 33rd out of 234 runners when he ran 27:29, with Rob Shiels clocking 28:03, Dave Bartlett 32:05 and Susanne Andrew (V40) 42:04.

The race was part of the Central Lancs Grand Prix.

At the Worsley Parkrun, Vince Ashton was close to his personal best when he ran 23:46.

At the Bolton run, Mark Williams was first home in 24:09 followed by Kath Davies in 26:34 and vet-65 Eileen Royle in 27:20.

At Heaton Park, Sheila Jones clocked 23:06 and Rachael Molloy 29:31.

Carly Rourke travelled further afield when she ran the parkrun at Leamington Spa, Warwickshire in 25:55.

Two members ran the Northern Vets AC 10k at Bispham, Blackpool at the weekend with Rob Shiels in 20th place in 38:12 and Tony Holt, second vet-50 in 39:11.

Horwich RMI’s Tom Carson led the field from the start on his way to setting a new course record of 16mins, 18secs at the Joan Rhodes and Fred Norris Memorial 5k multi-terrain race in Radcliffe last month. Maria Lowe won the women’s race.