CRAIG Norman was a superb second in the 36-mile Holcombe Howler Ultra race.

The experienced ultra runner was one of three Radcliffe Athletic Club athletes who took on the tough challenge with 6,400 feet of climbing on Saturday.

Norman was “over the moon” with his performance of 7hrs 13mins 8secs on the Holcombe and Rossendale Moors.

Meanwhile, ultra first-timers Julie Robertson and Neil Greenhalgh also had great performances. Running the second half of the race together, Robertson was the fourth woman and 15th overall in 10:21:20, crossing the line a second ahead of Greenhalgh.

Simon Foulkes travelled further afield for Estepona Coastal Trail Half Marathon in Spain. He ran 1:40:54 on the stunning coastal route in Andalucia.

Both Greenhalgh and Foulkes were also in midweek action when they joined two other Radcliffe runners at Foe Edge Fell Race in Rossendale. John Gibbs was ninth and second MV40 in 37:45 on the 6.6k course with 300m of climbing, Greenhalgh ran 43:10, Foulkes clocked 45:43 and Karen Doherty was third WV45 in 56:01.

Two races in a week also proved a piece of cake of for Rob Shiels. He ran 21:40 to finish sixth in the midweek Clowbridge 5k in Burnley, then went on to claim third MV45 in 41:36 at the It’s A Piece of Cake 10k at Boggart Hole Clough. He was joined by WV65 Sheila Jones where she celebrated her latest age-group win in 49:00.

Alison Howarth and Tracy Wroe flew the flag for Radcliffe at the Swinton Five Mile Ladies Trail Race. They clocked 45:58 and 52:36 respectively on the scenic course in Worsley Woods.

Radcliffe was well represented at a range of parkruns. At Heaton Park, there were personal bests of 21:40 for Stephen Birtwistle and 30:03 for Helen Kay. Robbie Parkinson was second JM-11-14 in 22:44 and also running were Nick Barnes (28:59), Jackie Faith (30:03) and Bev Quinton (39:01).

Other results: Bolton - Elaine Bailey 29:59, Mark William 31:23; Peel - Caroline Malone 28:46; Pendle - Chris Paxton (ninth) 22:40, Peter Hunter (14th) 23:26; Pennington Flash - Cheryl Gallagher 35:01; Sale Water - Rob Lister (fifth) 20:41; Seaford Beach in Sussex - Stephen Crowe 27:33; Worsley Woods - Craig Ward 29:06, Tracy Wroe 32:41.