THERE was a double treat for Radcliffe AC’s Donna Cartwright when she took first female place and broke the women’s course record by five minutes, running 30mins 21secs in the Trick or Treat Four Mile Trail Race at Barrow Bridge in Bolton.

And there were other prizes on Saturday with Chris Whittaker in third place overall in 27:36 and Chris Paxton, fourth and third male 35, in the same time.

Both broke last year’s course record by more than three minutes.

Many runners wore Halloween fancy dress and Mauro Rotondi (V45) was 21st in 36:56, while Kirsten Cook was first vet-55 in 39:30.

Andy Wheeler (V60) beat last year’s time by two minutes with 48:00 and vet-50 Christine Berry clocked 54:22.

Two juniors ran the mile fun run, Olivia Whittaker coming fifth in 10:17 and Lucas Paxton 22nd in 14:03.

Sinead Hayes had the perfect return to racing after a long time out when she competed in the 30.4-mile Exmoor Ultra.

On some tough coastal paths and boggy moorland she finished in 8:10:00 and said conditions were good but some of the hills were brutal.

Vet-50 Paul Swyers was pleased with his time in the Snowdonia Marathon when he clocked 4:30:11, five minutes faster than last year.

On a challenging course encircling Mount Snowdon he said there was some sleet but on the whole conditions were good.  

Fiona Lynch and Lisa Carter took on the OMM Mountain Marathon in South Wales’ Black Mountains – a two-day navigational event with an overnight camp.

Carrying their gear, they competed on some tough terrain in a score course collecting points for visiting controls within a five-hour time on day one and four hours on day two.

In some changeable weather, which included snow and freezing conditions in the night, they came 69th out of 154 teams and ninth female team.

Lynch said they had a brilliant time and that Carter's navigational skills had been spot on and credited her for their top-10 placing.

Andy Haines travelled to the hills above Littleborough when he ran the Race You To The Summit Fell Race, covering its 4.3 miles and 853 feet in 40:00.

The Paxton family were in action again on Sunday when dad Chris came 20th in the Accrington 10k in 39:10, two minutes faster than last year, and Lucas ran the fun run.

Natalie Hitchen clocked 1:05:38 in the Serpent 6-Mile Trail Race on the Smithills Estate at Bolton on Sunday, winning a fine serpent-shaped medal.

The night before she and her daughter Kerry had joined the Glow In The Dark 5k Fun Run in Heaton Park, raising £100 for Manchester Children’s Hospital.