A GRUELLING race up the Brecon Beacons' highest mountain is hard enough but Radcliffe Athletic Club's Paul Swyers did it carrying a 35lb load.

The vet-50 took on the infamous 24km Fan Dance, which goes over both sides of Pen-Y-Fan, and beat his time from two years ago, clocking 4hrs 2mins 0secs.

The South Wales event was run on an original Special Services selection course, straight up the summit, down the treacherous Jacob's Ladder and then back the same challenging way.

In what he described as near perfect conditions on Saturday, despite some snow and ice on the top, Swyers decided to join the load-bearing category, and carried a 35lb pack making the race even tougher.

On Sunday, four members started their racing season with the Garstang 10k.

In misty conditions on an undulating course, Chris Paxton was first home for the club with a new personal best time of 41:34.

Scott Baxter, in his first road race for three years, clocked 47:34, Chris Fletcher got under the 50-minute barrier for only the second time with 49:35 and Ian Hopkinson also had a pb with 53:08.

New member Sarah Oxley ran the Temple Newsam 10-miler in Leeds, clocking 1:53:27.

Six members joined a record number of 741 runners at the 5k parkrun in Heaton Park, with Michael Kontowtt (V50) finisding 30th in 20:47.

He was followed by Peter Hunter (21:02), Nick Barnes (21:50), Chris Fletcher (23:58), Tammy Oluyori (30:57) and Lucy Dewhurst (31:26).

Chemane Brier clocked 22:36secs when she ran the Great Run Local 5k at Wythenshwe Park on Sunday.