LOSTOCK AC's Mike Ernill, Albert Sunter, Tony Marlow and Josie Greenhalgh had a very early start on Saturday as they headed to Ingleton in the Yorkshire Dales for the 56th running of the Fellsman ultramarathon.

Covering a distance of 61 miles, and with 11,000 feet of climbing, the Fellsman visits the summits of many of the Yorkshire Dales' most well-known peaks including Ingleborough, Whernside, Dodd Fell and Buckden Pike, as well some of the most isolated areas of the national park, testing to the maximum runners' endurance and navigational skills, before finishing in Threshfield.

Greenhalgh made the tough, but wise, decision to withdraw after 20 miles due to injury, but Ernill, Sunter and Marlow forged ahead to finish 83rd out of the 261 finishers in a time of 18hrs 13mins.

The race also provided invaluable training experience for Ernill as he prepares for his attempt at the Bob Graham Round in July.

Closer to home, Rachel Hancock continued her impressive form in her first season in the green vest at the Chester Half Marathon, clocking 1:42:54 to finish 13th in her age group and the 94th woman.

In parkrun, Andy Laycock came home in 23:48 at Bolton, while at Worsley Park, Mark Shuttleworth finished in 22:21.