DONNA Cartwright continued her great cross-country form with a superb fifth place in the second race in the Red Rose League.

The club had a strong turnout of 25 seniors who took on the muddy, strength-sapping courses at Leverhulme Park in Bolton, which included slippery hills and a thigh-deep stream crossing.

Cartwright was also first vet-40 in the ladies’ race with Katie Percival next home for the club, followed by Paula Abernethy, Victoria Glossop, Caroline Malone, Deborah Barrington, Gail Champion, Louise Shield, Elaine Bailey, Lucy Tetler, Tracy Wroe, Emma Wolstencroft and Karen Doherty.

Ian Warrington was the first Radcliffe runner to finish the men’s race, coming in in 41st place. Also running were Craig Norman, Robert Short, John Wrigley, Chris Paxton, Andy Haines, Mark Williams, Dave Rushton, John Andrew, Peter Warr, Mike Scott and Andy Wheeler.

The men’s team was sixth and the ladies’ team finished eighth.

Olivia Whittaker competed in the u11s' girls’ race, and also ran a personal best of 9mins 50secs the following day at the 2k Great Run Local at Burrs Country Park.

Lisa Carter and Fiona Lynch took a two-day trip to Largs in Scotland, where they were the third female vet team in the medium-score competition in the 52nd Original Mountain Challenge.

Teams of two collected points by visiting checkpoints spread across the course within the time limits of six hours on day one and five hours, 15 minutes on day two.

They only received the map of the course on the start line and had to camp overnight.

The aim was to test competitors’ self reliance, route selection, navigational ability while moving quickly over difficult terrain, kit management, endurance, teamwork and sound mountain judgement.

Lynch said: “What the hills lacked in big climbs they made up for with bogs and tussocks and mud and sphagnum-covered pools. It was relentlessly challenging terrain.”

Lucy Dewhurst conquered the demanding Snowdonia Marathon in Wales, completing the spectacular route around Snowdon with around 2,750 feet of climbing in 6:03:07.

Mark Garner and Sharon Peterkin also enjoyed panoramic views of Ullswater and Helvellyn when they took to the Lake District’s trails.

Garner completed the 15k Helvellyn Trail Race, which started and finished in Glenridding, in 1:20:03, while Peterkin ran the 15k Helvellyn Trail Challenge in 2:20:24.

Neil Emmerson’s great run of 2:31:06 at the recent Yorkshire Marathon has earned him his second England call-up.

Emmerson will be part of the England Marathon Masters Team at next year’s Yorkshire Marathon. He also represented England Masters at last month’s Maidenhead Half Marathon.