THE drinks were on veteran Radcliffe Athletic Club runner Jim Rhodes after he clinched the V75 prize in the Central Lancashire Grand Prix series.

Rhodes was one of 27 Radcliffe members taking part in the Blackleach Five-Mile Trail Race in Walkden on Sunday and his finishing time of 1hr 10mins 52secs secured age-group victory in the series, winning him two bottles of wine.

Ian Warrington (32:27) was the club's first runner home, 15th overall in a field of 211 on a muddy, energy-sapping course at Blackleach Country Park.

Chris Paxton (32:42) was close behind in 18th, while Mike Kontowtt was second V50, finishing 32nd in 34:21.

Other finishers: Mauro Rotondi (V45) 36:17, Dave Rushton (V50) 36:25, Mark William (V50) 37:46, Kris Lee (V40) 37:56, Scott Baxter 38:35, Steve Hamer (V55) 39:08, Chris Fletcher 39:48, Kate Holden (V40) 40:32, Sarah Scott 40:43, Chris Saville (V40) 42:37, Amanda Hey (third V55) 43:05, Lisa Carter (V45) 43:21, Alan Brown (V60) 44:34, Kath Davies (V50) 46:37, Kirsten Cook (V55) 47:25, Dave Bartlett 47:27, Ian Hopkinson (V40) 48:04, Karen Doherty (V40) 48:26, Andy Wheeler (V60) 49:12, Wayne Holden 49:49, Iain Harris (V65) 50:52, Sarah Rushton (V45) 51:21, Natalie Hitchen 59:31.

Nick Barnes finished the Yorkshire Off Road Half Marathon in 2:42:16 on Sunday.

The tough course, which includes 2,000 feet of climbing around the moors above Haworth, is somewhat misleading as it actually covers a distance of 14.9 miles.

Sarah Oxley toughed it out as the only club runner to take on the Great North Run on Sunday, completing the half marathon in 2:35:59 despite suffering from a swollen ankle.

Also on Sunday, Bev McGrath clocked 2:24:54 in the Delamere Half Marathon, while Caroline Mullineaux completed the Delamere 10k in 55:46.

Lucy Dewhurst ran 2:26:30 in the Vale of York Half Marathon, a flat fast course that finished and started at an airfield,

Facing damp and misty conditions, nine Radcliffe members took on the midweek five-mile Hades Hill Fell race in Whitworth, which includes 1,180 feet of climbing as was designated as part of the club championships.

Neal Emmerson was fourth out of 108 runners in 38:18 and Donna Cartwright was second woman and first V40 in 44:28.

Other finishers: Chris Paxton (19th) 43:36, Mauro Rotondi 47:49, Lee Turner 47:52, Kris Lee 49:52, Peter Booth 52:51, Lisa Carter (second V45 and 10th woman) 57:19 and Elliot Booth 1:02:26.