RADCLIFFE AC athletes battled gruelling conditions at the English National Cross Country Championships.

The club took a nine-strong team to the event at Wollaton Park in Nottingham.

One of the muddiest ever national courses, they also had to contend with strong winds, knee-deep puddles and log obstacles.

Alex Pullan clocked 33:54 in the under-17 men’s race which was billed as 6k, but was closer to 7k.

Jenny Yates was the first Radcliffe finisher in the 88th Senior Women’s Championship which was again around 1k longer than the advertised 8k.

She ran 46:47 ahead of Caroline Malone in 56:08, Louise Shield 58:52; Karen Doherty 1:05:34 and Tracy Wroe 1:10:55. The women’s team finished 88th.

The 133rd Senior Men’s Championship was also longer than its supposed 12k. Radcliffe’s Craig Norman ran 1:01:42, Chris Paxton 1:02:59 and Mark Enright 1:15:46.

Strong winds and hail combined to create ‘savage’ conditions for a quartet of Radcliffe runners at High Cup Nick Fell Race in the North Pennines.

Andy Haines completed the 9.3 miles with 1,509ft of climbing in 1:34:35, Paul Swyers ran 1:41:08, Lisa Carter 1:51:01 and Mark Wolfenden 2:16:19.

Three also took to the hills for the challenging five-mile Midgley Moor Fell Race in Halifax.

The second race in the Run The Moors Grand Prix, which is contested by several clubs, Dave McGrath completed the 1,250ft of climbing in 53:50, Lee Turner ran 1.01.41, John Mcnicoll was disappointed with his 1:18:00.

In a varied week for the club, Mark Garner took on the new 20-mile Canalathon. He finished the route along the Rochdale Canal, from Rochdale Sowerby Bridge, in

3:16:36 to claim 12th Vet-40.

John Higginson also clocked up the miles when he completed the 50-mile Roundhey challenge organised by the Long Distance Walkers Association in 10:49:00.

Bev Quinton turned up for a 10k and ended up running a tough trail half marathon.

She had entered the hilly Harewood House 10k trail race near Leeds, but stepped up to the longer distance - held on the same day - when its start was delayed.

Despite being unprepared, she finished her first half marathon since tearing her meniscus in 3:25:45.

David Schofield clocked a personal best of 55:00 at the Lostock 6 Mile Road Race.