SIX members of Lostock AC competed in the Anglezarke Amble, a Long Distance Walking Challenge Event which allows walkers and runners to partake together, writes Samantha Sale.

There are two route options for the day, the short at 16 miles and the long at 24 miles.

Five Lostocker’s ran the short route, Adrian Hope running as a solo competitor and Janet Rhodes and Sally McCoy running as a pair as did Josie Greenhalgh and Vicky Blackwell. Samantha Sale opted for the long 24-mile route.

The ‘Amble’, as it is fondly known takes in much of the finest scenery in the West Pennine Moors.

The start of the run passes through Lever Park.

Gifted by Lord Leverhulme to the people of Bolton at the beginning of the last century.

Above the gardens the route visits the well known landmark of Rivington Pike, where a beacon was lit in 1588 to warn of the approach of the Spanish Armada.

Then it’s over to the gruelling Winter Hill, which at almost 1500ft and is the highest point of the route.

One very obvious landmark is the television mast, another marks the spot of ‘murder most foul’ and is known as ‘Scotsman’s Post’.

There is now a long descent, after which the way passes south of the village of Belmont to where, in a mile or so, it reaches the checkpoint where the two routes split.

The short route heads left along a track overlooking Belmont Reservoir, whereas the long route crosses open moorland.

Once across the busy A666, the route leads to Turton and Entwistle Reservoir. At the northern end of the moor the route passes Darwen Tower, built in 1898 to commemorate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee.

Good running across the moor and a short descent takes you to Roddlesworth Woods where the long and short routes converge before the climb over Great Hill before dropping down into white Coppice before a loop through Anglezarke past Upper Rivington Reservoir before heading back to the finish in Rivington Village.

Adrian Hope running the short course was not only first to finish for Lostock but also first to finish overall in under three hours.

Next to finish was Greenhalgh and Blackwell. This was Vicky’s first event with Lostock and her longest run to date and finished in a fantastic 3 hours 15 mins. Next home after a brilliant run were Rhodes and McCoy.

Sale paced herself well over the longer course and was pleased to finish second lady in 4hrs 26 mins.

Not too far way at Haigh Woodland, Ian Burns, Rachel Stevens and Andy Laycock all took part in Parkrun. Laycock was first to finish for Lostock in 24mins 22secs with Stevens and Burns battling it out to the line and finishing just two seconds between each other in 28mins 10secs and 28mins 12secs respectively.

On Sunday, fresh from the “Amble”, Josie Greenhalgh travelled to Oldham to take part in Windy Hill fell race.

Just short of 12 miles and 2000ft of climbing the route is a fast course on well visible trails and paths over the Pennine Moors with views of Hollingworth Lake.

Greenhalgh ran a great race finishing 1st WV50 in 01hr 44mins.