The sun came out as Horwich Harriers joined the runners at the Chorley 10k.

While the vitamin D was welcome after a long, wet winter, the runners could be forgiven for wishing the May heat would hold off for another hour.

Steph McKee was not deterred, setting a new personal-best time of 47mins 13secs on her way to finishing sixth female. She was doubtless spurred on by trying to catch club chairman, Glynne Lever, doing his, ‘first proper race in a long, long time’. He was pleased with his time of 46:39, which bagged him seventh MV50.

Richard O’Reilly showed he is still on an upward trajectory post injury, with a time of 41:35 and second in his MV55 category.

Also running were husband-and-wife duo, and Chorley 10km regulars, Kevin (fifth MV50, 44:47) and Katherine (third LV50, 52:13) Newall. Other results saw Steven Horrocks run 51:34, Luke Hutchinson clock 1:06:00 and Sam Fairhurst came 10th in 35:23.

All enjoyed the closed roads and large crowds which lends this local race a festival atmosphere.

Gareth Webb donned his white and red vest once more to do battle in the England Masters versus Wales Masters at the Great Birmingham 10km.

The course was twisting and undulating and this, combined with the first warm weather of the year, meant it was not a PB course. Webb dug deep to record a time of 41:12 - good enough to finish second V65 in an international field.

Great Hameldon Hill Race, in Accrington, saw Harriers young and old lace up their fell shoes in the popular round of the Pendle and Burnley Grand Prix.

Four Juniors took part in the Under-11/U13 race, Elliot Walker-Wilton returning in fifth position (second M11) with a time of 10:56. He was closely trailed by his brother, Oscar, who was 12th (sixth M11) in 11:32. Leo Orell was 10th M13 with a time of 12:03 and Harry O’Connor 16th M13 in 14:57. In the U15/U17 race, Sophie Orrell was flying the flag solo, securing eighth F15. She completed the course in 17:55.

In the senior race Danny Hope was just 40 seconds off the podium, completing the six-mile course in 41:39. He could console himself with first M45. Marcus Taylor was back on his favoured fells this weekend, also taking the victory in his M50 age category, recording a time of 46:21, while Chris Charnley recovered from midweek illness to duck under the hour (56:56). Tony Hesketh was second M75 (1:16:27).

Rob Jackson showed he’s on track for the Great Manchester 10km in a few weeks as he posted another sub 18:30 time at Peel Parkrun. His 18:28 positioned him in seventh overall, first in age category and first overall age grading out of 400.

Jason and Janet Middleton took to their eponymous woods south of Leeds for their latest parkrun tourism. Jason clocked 31:44 and Janet 35:13.