NEAL Emmerson finished 10th in his V35 age group after putting in a superb performance at the Greater Manchester Marathon on Sunday.

He completed the traditionally fast course in 2hrs 42mins 53secs to come home 55th overall in a field of almost 8,700 finishers.

Emmerson dedicated his display to the dozens of Radcliffe Athletic Club team-mates who dotted around the course, cheering him on from the sidelines.

"I was pleased with the time," he said. "But the wheels fell off at 23 miles and I couldn't have brought it home without the encouragement from club-mates when I needed it.

"Hopefully I can improve on my time at the Blackpool Marathon later this month."

Ian Warrington dipped under his three-hour target to finish in 2:59:27, and he was followed home by Radcliffe team-mates John Wrigley (3:23:25), Chris Paxton (3:26:37), Peter Hunter (3:38:28), Nicholas Bennett (3:48:37) and Sarah Oxley (5:03:00).

McKenzie Madison, the club's newest members, hobbled home in a time of 4:00:25, showing the spirit that has helped him raise thousands of pounds completing ultra-marathons all over the world by finishing the course despite injuring his knee.

The 25-year-old adventure runner has completed the Great Wall Marathon in China and the Desert Marathon in the past as he bids to raise £10,000 for the Wirral-based Claire's House.

He has already run the Hong Kong and Jerusalem marathons this year and, fitness-permitting, he plans to take part in the Brecon Beacons event in May and the Inca Trail Marathon in June.

Madison said: "I always doubt myself on the start line and think I'm never going to complete it. I am my own worst critic and then when I get there and start running I just zone out."

Elsewhere, Fiona Lynch was third woman V40 and 11th woman overall in the Liverpool Half Marathon after completing the event in 1:29:24.

Rob Lister also took part, running a personal best time of 1:36:18.

Paul Swyers and Mark Wolfenden (both V50s) clocked 48:32 and 53:09, respectively, in the 4.3-mile Peter Hartley Memorial Liver Hill Fell Race on the moors above Rawtenstall, which climbed 820 feet.

Swyers was also first home for Radcliffe in the 4.5-mile Pendle Fell Race, which includes two climbs from Barley that total 1,500 feet. He completed the challenging course in 48:46, followed by Peter McNulty (fifth V60 – 50:05), Lee Turner (V40 – 50:47), Lisa Carter (eighth V40 – 59:30), Alan Sumner (second V70 –1:02:05) and Sheila McNulty (first female V70 – 1:03:22).

In the 5k road race at Whitworth, Rochdale, Chris Fletcher was first home with a personal best time of 23:06. Alan Brown (V60) was the next Radcliffe runner to finish the two-lap course around Cowm Reservoir, finishing in 26:17.

Karen Doherty (V40) recorded a PB of 28:25 and Jim Rhodes was first V75 in 42:05.

Meanwhile, Wayne Holden clocked 32:23 in the Curly 5k Trail race at Horwich, while Mauro Rotondi and Caroline Mullineaux finished the 5.9-mile Lad's Leap Fell Race in Crowden, Derbyshire, which includes 1,700 feet of climbing, in 1:11:00 and 1:37:00 respectively.

Kris Lee was in the Lake District for the Buttermere 10-mile Trail Race, where he clocked 1:36:09, while Steve Hamer (V55) took on a hilly Darwen Heritage Half Marathon, finishing in 1:47:18.