RADCLIFFE'S Craig Norman battled snow, hail, strong winds and rain to win The Jackals 10k race in 56mins 30secs.

Norman said it was the worst race conditions he had faced after taking victory on the trail course in Darwen.

It topped his second place in the same race last year, and follows third place in January’s Holcombe Howler trail 10k.

Mark Garner (22nd in 1:10:28) and Christopher Burke (12th in 1:06:35) also ran The Jackals, while there was more success for members who triumphed over horrendous weather in a busy week for the club.

Jenny Yates continued her winning form by finishing first vet-50 in the Irwell Valley 20-Mile race.

Running with club-mate Kris Lee, they clocked 2:51:03 on the off-road course which started at Drinkwater Park in Prestwich.

Yates said: “It was brutal with wind, rain, snow, sun and lots of mud.

"Already wearing knee supports on both knees, I managed to go over on both ankles.”

They were followed home by John Gibbs, in 3:07:07, while Sharon Peterkin continued to improve with a course personal best of 4:11:18 and Amanda Darbyshire ran 4:20:53.

Three club members ran the Roddlesworth Roller 9k from Abbey Village, Chorley, with Donna Cartwright finishing fourth woman and first vet-40 in 42:00.

On an undulating course of trails and paths, Paul Swyers clocked 42:20 to finish fifth vet-50 and Kathryn Davies was fifth vet-55 in 53:46.

Lisa Carter battled hail in the tough 32-mile Haworth Hobble Fell Race in West Yorkshire, finishing in 7:53:12.

Lee Turner and John Andrew had better conditions when they also took to the hills in Cumbria for the challenging Black Combe Fell Race.

The 8.1-mile route has 3,500 feet of climbing with Turner finishing in 1:49:47 and Andrew in 2:05:49.

Helen Andrew contended with howling gales and hail at the Liverpool Half Marathon, clocking 1:42:34, while Stevie Blaylock ran the Chester 10k in 57:36, going under the hour for the first time.

Andy Wheeler and Natalie Hitchen crossed the line at a wet and windy Trafford 10k in 1:02:44 and 1:03:40, respectively.

It was also a busy week for Radcliffe AC Juniors with three members competing in the Bury Primary Schools Cross Country at St Gabriel’s High School.

Samuel Howard finished a great second in his race, his brother Arthur claimed 82nd place and Fleur Carter was 23rd in her age group.

Away from the racing, the junior section successfully secured £1,500 for coaching and equipment from Bury Council’s Pitch fund. They were among the local community groups which 'pitched' for funding at Radcliffe United Reformed Church, with the audience voting for the ones they wanted to receive money.