NEAL Emmerson set yet another club record when he led home a field of 16 Radcliffe AC runners at the Greater Manchester Marathon.

He ran a fantastic 2hrs 34mins 25secs, knocking more than four minutes off his previous personal best, to finish 32nd out of the thousands at Sunday’s event.

It was a record time in the marathon for the Radcliffe club which was founded in 1984.

Emmerson said: “I went out fast but found it rough in the second half and I had to dial it back. It was great to see all the support from Radcliffe AC on the course.”

The race featured several first-time marathon runners from the club and there were several PBs, while some members also ran in aid of charity.

Ian Warrington was pleased with his time of 2:58:54, while Richard Bellis was next home in 3:27:56.

Other results: Kris Lee 3:28:24, Chris Paxton 3:28:29, Mike Kontowtt 3:43:31, Peter Hunter 3:49:25, Paul Barrington 3:54:27, Sheila Jones (eighth Vet 60) 3:57:26, Mark Garner 3:58:04, Dave Rushton 4:12:37, Sharon Peterkin 5:33:05, Lisa Donnelly 5:33:40, Lucy Dewhurst 5:43:48, Sarah Oxley 5:43:48, Amanda Darbyshire 6:05:03.

Radcliffe also had 12 runners at the midweek Liver Hill Fell Race in Rossendale, the second in the Run the Moors series.

Kathryn Davies clocked 57:11 to finish second Vet 55 on the 5.1-mile course with 820 feet of climbing, and Sheila McNulty was second Vet 70 in 1:05:19.

Chris Whittaker was the first Radcliffe finisher and 10th overall in 37:49.

Other results: John Wrigley 40:17, Lee Turner 45:32, Paul Swyers 47:34, Mauro Rotondi 49:38, Steve Hamer 50:55, Lisa Carter 54:43, Chris Fletcher 1:02:50, David Schofield 1:03:02, Stephen Parker 1:08:28.

There was another great midweek turnout in the first race of the Curley’s 5k Trail Series at Horwich.

Lee Cooper was the first home for the club on the hilly course in 23:34, finishing 26th out of 123 runners.

Other results: Phill Prince 24:57, Peter Cook 25:24, Kirsten Cook (third Vet 55) 29:05, Kathryn Prince 31:06, Elaine Bailey (second Vet 60) 31:43, Deborah Barrington 33:17, Karen Doherty 34:01, Sarah Rushton 35:27, Tracy Wroe 36:56.

Caroline Mullineaux celebrated her birthday by finishing second Vet 40 at the Rivington 10-Mile Trail Challenge, knocking a massive 12 minutes off her PB to finish in 1:35:28. Kathryn Davies ran 1:42:40, David Schofield 1:57:38 and Karen Doherty 2:02:42.

Andy Haines finished 115th out of 200 runners in the Pendle Hill Fell Race, covering the 4.5 miles and 1,499 feet of ascent in 45:48.

Andy Wheeler was third Vet 60 at the Worden Park 5k near Leyland, coming 92nd out of 265 runners in 29:01, while Tracy Wroe clocked 1:04:52 at the Fleetwood 10k.