RADCLIFFE AC had a great turnout of 34 runners at the Central Lancs 5k at Bolton on Sunday with Neal Emmerson coming home eighth out of 309 in a time of 17mins 20secs.

The race in and around Leverhulme Park was also the opening fixture of the competitive Central Lancs Grand Prix, which involves 10 clubs, including Radcliffe, battling it out during the season over a series of events.

Among the women Jenny Yates took the first vet-50 trophy and was 14th female in 21:58 – eight seconds behind Katie Percival, who was 11th woman in 21:50. Kate Holden was second vet-40 in 23:35.

Chris Whittaker followed Emmerson home for the club, coming 32nd overall, clocking 18:49 and John Wrigley was 53rd in 19:46. Mark Williams (V50) ran 20:16, Mike Kontowtt (V55) ran 20:39 and Dave McGrath was also close, clocking 20:42.

Other results: Nick Barnes 22:06, Mark Garner (V45) 22:22, Mark Wolfenden (V50) 22:33, John McNicoll (V50) 22:50, Paula Abernethy (V50) 24:07, Amanda Callan 24:35, Chemane Brier 24:40, Chris Fletcher 25:06, Caroline Mullineaux (V40) 25:28 (PB), Peter Hunter 25:53, Katie Benson 26:56, Grace Williams (seventh junior) 27:10, Kirsten Cook (V55) 27:19, Kath Davies (V55) 28:07, Lisa Donnelly (V45) 30:10, Gavin Durman 30:21, Karen Doherty 30:35, Sharon Peterkin

30:40, Sarah Rushton (V45) 30:49, Ian Hopkinson (V40) 31:42, Wayne Holdem 31:50, Dave Rushton (V50) 31:46, Andy Wheeler (V60) 32:33, Christine Berry (V50) 33:27, Natalie Hitchen 34:44.

Among the teams, the club's A and B squads were fifth with the women's team coming in fourth.

Five members took part in the last event in the South East Lancs Cross Country League at Astley Park, Chorley on Saturday.

Kate Holden was 30th out of 72 women runners in 33:10 and Karen Doherty clocked 43:57, both doing the double with the cross country and then the 5k over weekend.

On a longer course, John Wrigley, who also ran the double, clocked 43:09, coming 43rd out of 108 runners, Chris Paxton finished in 45:48 and Kris Lee in 47:14.

In the 29th Great North West Half Marathon around the coastal front of Blackpool, Sarah Oxley ran 2:26:10.

Suffering with knee problems she was happy to finish the event.

In the parkruns, John Gibbs ran 19:46 at Heaton Park, with Nick Barnes (22:18), Sheila Jones (23:54) and Peter Hunter (25:32) not far behind.

Debi Warrington finished in 30:37 and Iain Harris clocked 36:11.

At Bolton, Kath Davies clocked 29:46 and, running together, Lisa Donnelly clocked 37:15, Sarah Oxley 37:16 and Jen Entwistle 37:18.