NEAL Emmerson finished a superb fifth at the Wigan half marathon, helping Radcliffe AC to win the team prize.

There were huge personal bests galore as he led home a strong contingent of 11 club runners at Sunday’s race in an impressive 1hr 14mins 25secs.

On a great day for the club, Emmerson knocked nearly five minutes off his time from 2017, when the race was last held, and he came seventh.

Chris Whittaker slashed his PB by around seven minutes to clock 1:20:35 and finish 12th out of 980 runners.

The pair took the team prize along with Robert Short, who was 20th in 1:23:17, and Chris Paxton, who came 44th in 1:27:37 – both also notching PBs.

Steve Hamer was fourth Vet 60 in 1:44:08 and Kathryn Davies ran 1:59:39 to claim fifth Vet 55.

The race was the second in the Central Lancashire Grand Prix, which sees local clubs compete over 10 events.

It cements a strong start for Radcliffe in the series with the men’s team finishing second in the first event.

Other results: John Wrigley (58th) 1:29:47, Mark Garner 1:39:38, Peter Hunter 1:41:07, Andy Wheeler 2:26:23, Karen Doherty 2:27:16.

There was also a great turnout for the club at a muddy Two Crosses Challenge which started and finished in Tottington and was organised by the East Lancs Long Distance Walkers' Association.

Runners and walkers could enter either a 17 or 25-mile route, which both took in the Roman Cross at Affetside and Pilgrim’s Cross on Holcombe Moor.

Although not classed as a race, Fiona Lynch finished second woman on the 25-mile route in 4:41:00. along with David Ward and Ian Warrington. Peter McNulty finished in 4:39:00, Helen Andrew clocked 5:20:00, Mauro Rotondi finished in 5:48:00 and Lisa Carter came home in 5:54:00.

Paul Swyers and John Andrew completed the 17-mile route in 3:36:00 and 3:43:00 respectively.

The great results continued when five members travelled to Lancaster for the Trimpell 20-Mile Race, a popular course for marathon preparation.

Rob Lister was first home for Radcliffe in 2:52:10, while Sheila Jones won the Vet 60 age group in 2:58:24.

Also running the route through historic Lancaster and the stunning Lune Valley was Lisa Donnelly who clocked 4:13:08 while Sarah Oxley and Lucy Dewhurst ran 4:22:49.

Elsewhere, there was a PB for Caroline Malone who clocked 52:15 in snow, hail and wind at the Bradford 10k.

Three juniors competed in the latest Bury Primary Schools' Cross Country fixture at Derby High School.

Brothers Samuel and Arthur Howard finished third and 72nd, respectively, with Fleur Carter coming 23rd in her race.