RADCLIFFE AC's Neal Emmerson may have faced the hottest ever London Marathon on Sunday but he ran 2hrs 39mins 25secs – a record time for the club since its formation in 1984.

He beat his previous best time by almost two minutes and was 141st out of the thousands taking on one of the biggest distance running events in the world.

He said: "The heat was tough and I had to keep reducing my pace as I was fading after 21 miles and could feel cramp and fatigue. But my legs got me round."

He was one of three club members running in the scorching weather. Vet-50 Jenny Yates clocked 4:30:11, despite the effects of a virus she has been suffering on and off over the past month plus the heat.

Her problems started around 15k and she said: "I was running for charity and I had my name on my vest.

"Without the crowd shouting for me I don't think I would have had the time I ended with or even finished. They were amazing."

Lisa Carter (V45) ran 4:44:52 and said: "I felt okay but it was tough. I was glad to get under five hours."

There were fine sixth and eighth places for Radcliffe from 536 runners in the Blackpool Festival 10k on Saturday. But hot conditions affected all five who ran the popular seaside event.

Ian Warrington came home sixth in 37:57 despite being sick in the heat.

An improving Chris Whittaker took eighth place in 38:27, McKenzie Madison ran 48:12, Peter Warr (V45) 56:14 and Debi Warrington, who struggled with the heat from 6k ,was was happy with her 1:03:03.

On Sunday in the Bolton 10k, eight club members took part with Mark Williams having a good run, coming 15th out of 514 runners and getting a vet-50 trophy in 41:04. Mark Garner (V45) was next in for the club, clocking 46:02, Mark Wolfenden (V50) ran 53:01, Janet Rigby (V50) finished in 54:35, Leonora Rose (V45) registered 58:22 and Karen Doherty, in her first event as a vet-45, came home in 1:05:42.

Christine Berry (V45) clocked 1:09:57, 24 minutes quicker than when she did the event as her first ever race before being persuaded to join the club. Vet-40 Natalie Hitchen clocked 1:12:34.

Vince Ashton (V45) ran the midweek Bob and Hilary Towell Cowm Reservoir 5k at Whitworth, Rochdale, clocking 26:26.