RADCLIFFE Athletic Club chairman Chris Paxton was rewarded for his efforts promoting this year’s Tor Mile Fell Race with a vastly improved field of 93 runners.

Interest in one of the country’s oldest fell races has waned in recent years and Paxton, who lives near the start line in Helmshore, agreed to organise this year’s event in a bid to revive its fortunes.

“I am over the moon with 93 runners,” said Paxton, after last year’s race attracted just 24 entrants. “Seeing them all snake up the hill in a long line made all the hard work worth it.”

Dave McGrath was the club’s best-placed finisher in ninth, clocking 13mins 53secs in the event, which includes 551 feet of climbing up Musbury Tor.

Other finishers: Lee Turner (V45) 17:16, Scott Baxter 17:35, John Andrew 17:52, Mauro Rotondi (V45) 18:12, Mark Cartwright (V50) 19:22, Chemane Brier 20:47.

A group of 23 Radcliffe runners tackled the Horwich 5 on Wednesday, plotting their way through Rivington on a picturesque five-mile course.

Neal Emmerson was first home for club, clocking 31:12 to finish 15th out of 231 runners.

Other finishers: Ian Warrington (25th) 32:30, John Wrigley (32nd) 33:15, Dave Rushton (fourth V50) 35:17, Kris Lee (V40) 35:48, Peter Hunter 36:10, Rob Lister (V50) 36:49, Paula Abernethy (second V50) 37:53, Katie Percival 38:24, Steve Hamer (V50) 38:31, Nick Barnes 38:32, Kate Holden (V40) 40:19, Sheila Jones (first V60) 41:19, Chris Saville (V40) 41:40, Chris Fletcher 43:46, Dave Bartlett 44:28, Kirsten Cook (V55) 47:18, Ian Hopkinson (V40) 48:48, Wayne Holden 50:31, Sarah Rushton (V45) 52:34, Iain Harris (V65) 53:11, Lucy Dewhurst 57:49, Jim Rhodes (first V75) 1:10:43.

The following evening two members, both vet-50s, ran Aggie’s Staircase Fell Race in Darwen. Covering four miles and 1,148 feet of climbing, Paul Swyers finished in 38:27 and Mark Wolfenden in 41:46.

Bev McGrath competed in the midweek Barrow Bridge 5k at Bolton, clocking 30:34 to finish 42nd.

Ian Hopkinson took part in the Runfest Wales 10k at Rhyl, beating last year’s time, in what was his first ever 10k, by eight minutes. His time of 56:30 put Ian 93rd out of 234 competitors.

Mauro Rotondi travelled to the Lake District to take part in the 10-in-10 Charity Challenge, which raises money for the Multiple Sclerosis Society and sees teams of competitors bid to climb 10 peaks in under 10 hours.

The Radcliffe member ran the last six miles of the 16 miles covered and his team have so far raised £692.

Lucy Dewhurst took on the Round Sheffield Run Multi Stage Trail Race at Encliffe Park on Sunday which had 11 timed stages making up 20km and added together at the end giving a trail half marathon time. Her overall time was 2:33:00.