IT was a hugely successful weekend for Radcliffe AC who picked up a raft of awards at the Central Lancashire Grand Prix presentation ceremony.

The club won the team title in the competition which is contested over 10 races, ranging from a mile to a half-marathon.

Neal Emmerson was crowned the men’s champion and Robert Short was fourth, while Iain Harris was first Vet-70 and Peter Cook was second Vet-60.

Among the women, Paula Abernethy was second Vet-50 and Elaine Bailey was second Vet-60.

Radcliffe’s B team finished second in the competition which is contested by 10 local clubs.

The ladies’ team was third and the vets’ team was fourth.

The presentation evening was hosted by Radcliffe AC at Bury Sports Club.

Chairman Chris Paxton, Mark Garner and Andy Wheeler received participation awards for completing all 10 races in the series, while Short and Bailey won awards for completing nine.

On the racing front, a superb 403 runners took part in the 13 Arches Trail Half Marathon which was organised by Radcliffe AC.

Unattached runner Spencer Shaw was first over the wet, muddy and undulating course in 1hr 17mins 48secs.

Ian Carruthers, also unattached, clinched second in 1:18:18, just pipping Michael Mannings, from Oldham and Royton Harriers, who clocked the same time.

Anne-Marie Hindle, from Rossendale Harriers, was the first woman in 1:31:36, while Southport Waterloo AC’s Tracey Allan took second in 1:32:22 and Emma Fiedler, from Todmorden Harriers, ran 1:35:28 to take third.

Radcliffe had one runner in the race, Mark Garner, who clocked 1:42:58.

The popular event was another sell-out for the club, with the course taking in the local trails and the listed 13 Arches railway viaduct.

Members marshalled and the prizes were presented at Sedgley Park Rugby Club by Radcliffe AC president Tom West.

Lee Cooper was in action at a very wet Conwy Half Marathon in Wales, finishing the scenic course in 1:47:17.

Elsewhere, two runners took on the challenging 16.8-mile Tour of Pendle fell race, with Ian Warrington covering the tough 4,833 feet of climbing in 3:03:54 and Lisa Carter knocking five minutes off her personal best to clock 4:19:00.