IT was a busy weekend of racing for Radcliffe AC with runners in nine races over two days.

On Sunday, Neal Emmerson got himself a fine fourth place in the Spen 20 in West Yorkshire in a time of 2hrs 1min 8secs. Showing his form yet again he ran an undulating two-lap course from the Princess Mary Athletics Stadium in Liversedge in what he said were perfect conditions.

The day before had brought rain, fog, and lots of mud but despite the conditions Ian Warrington took a great seventh place in a field of 236 in the Chester Ultra  52-Mile Trail Race.

Winning himself a trophy with a time of 8:31:00, the club's head coach was over the moon with a top-10 position in his first 52-miler.

He was one of three members who took on the tough course that fused the best trails in the region, taking in the River Dee in the heart of Chester, Chester racecourse, the North Cheshire Way, Helsby Hill, the Sandstone Trail and Delamere Forest with six checkpoints along the way.

McKenzie Madison got himself a silver award after finishing among the second 100 runners and Bev McGrath ran with former club member Dawn Evans who was in her first ultra.

They stuck together and got themselves their trophy and T-shirt  at the end, Evans showing her determination to finish encouraged by McGrath.

There was drama for Donna Cartwright on Saturday when she slipped and fell in horrendous conditions while taking part in the 8.25-mile Black Combe Fell Race at Silecroft in Cumbria, a tough event with 3,225 feet of climbing.

But she still came home second woman and first vet-40 in 51:00.

It was on one of the descents that she slipped and she said: "My leg went under me and my ankle went the other way.

"I thought my race was over but a man helped me up and I got stuck in and clawed back the places I had lost on the last climb."

Fiona Lynch was fourth woman and first vet-40 in 5:26:00 in the tough 32-mile Haworth Hobble Fell Race in West Yorkshire on Saturday with its 4,400 feet of climbing.

Also taking to the hills was Michelle Hincks running the West Pennine Marathon from Sunnyhurst Woods, Darwen on to the surrounding moorland.

Again facing the bad conditions in an event which covered more than the marathon distance, she kept within the cut-off time and ran 6:55:00. 

Jen Entwistle and Sharon Peterkin stayed local on Sunday for the Irwell Vale 20-Miler starting near to Drinkwater Park Rainsough, Prestwich and running round the trails and paths of the Irwell Valley.

Both are preparing for the Manchester Marathon next month and ran together clocking  4:03:00.    

Five ran the 30th Roddlesworth Roller 9k from Abbey Village, Chorley on Sunday with Dave McGrath finishing in 19th position in 37:50.

On a challenging course, Lee Turner (V50) clocked 44:01, Mark Wolfenden (V50) 47:12, Sarah Turner (V45) 52:28 and Karen Doherty (V40) 1:01:47.

Despite being misdirected in the Jackals Run 10k at Darwen, Craig Norman, in his first race for the club, took second place with a time of 1:04:00 – slower than his normal time but he was pleased with the placing.

There were personal best times for Mark Garner and John McNicoll at the Tatton Park 10k in Cheshire on Sunday where Garner clocked 44:46 and McNicoll 44:49, coming second vet-50.