RADCLIFFE AC's Sheila Jones and Jenny Yates celebrated with superb marathon times when they represented England.

The pair competed for their country at the Celtic Nations Masters Marathon Championship which was incorporated into Sunday's Yorkshire Marathon.

They were joined in the regular marathon by Neal Emmerson, who smashed his previous club record to finish a fantastic 15th in 2hrs 31mins 6secs in the race which started and finished at the University of York.

Vet-50 Yates knocked more than five minutes off her personal best, running 3:31:02 despite suffering stomach problems during the race.

She qualified for her England Masters vest at the Chester Marathon and said: "It's the hardest race I've done so far.

"After feeling poorly most of the week I knew it would catch up with me before the end of the race.

"I'm amazed I completed it in the time I did and I just wanted to stop and cry during the last 5k.

"I'm immensely proud to have worn the vest."

Jones was pleased with her time of 3:56:40 after qualifying for her Vet-60 vest at the Manchester Marathon.

Emmerson, who represented England Masters at the recent Maidenhead Half Marathon, knocked three minutes and 19 seconds off his previous mark which he set in April.

The trio were joined by Amanda Darbyshire, who ran a personal best of 5:59:16, while Radcliffe AC head coach Ian Warrington was the three hour and 30 minute pacer.

It was a busy weekend for Warrington who was also finalist in the Volunteer of the Year category at the Bury Sports Awards in recognition of his work with the club.

He was joined by team-mates at the ceremony and said: "I didn't win but I was very grateful to even be recognised.

"I don't do it for the awards or nominations, I do it for the satisfaction of seeing my athletes improve, be that in times, distance or confidence."

Donna Cartwright finished a superb sixth out of 120 women at the first fixture of the South East Lancashire Cross Country League.

She ran 33:19 to claim first Vet-40 on the course at Heaton Park ahead of Katie Percival, who was ninth in 33:48. They were part of the ladies' team which claimed fourth place along with Hayley Winder, who was 44th in 38:23.

Other results: Amanda Callan 41:05, Caroline Malone 42:54, Louise Shield 49:13, Tracy Wroe 49:35.

The quartet of Dave McGrath, Craig Norman, Robert Short and Andy Haines made up the fourth-placed team in the men's race which attracted 210 runners.

McGrath was 31st in 41:22, while Norman ran 41:58, Short finished in 42:43 and Haines clocked 45:53.

Other results: Mark Garner 50:05, Peter Cook 52:54, Chris Fletcher 1:12:49.

Olivia Whittaker was 15th in 7:02 in the girls' under-11s race.

Emma Wolstencroft travelled to Portsmouth for the 10-mile Great South Run, finishing in 1:45:58, while Elaine Bailey ran at the Bramley 10k in Leeds in 59:32.