WHAT have Stirling Moss, Barry Sheene, Jackie Stewart and Mark Swannell got in common? Answer: They are all British winners at Oulton Park.

Swannell, Bolton United Harriers’ flying over-40 vet, was not motor-powered though, instead he completed the Oulton Park Half Marathon under his own steam in 1hr 18mins 33secs.

Blasting straight to the front, Swannell put 15 seconds between himself and the pack of 678 over each of the first two laps, before settling into a remarkably consistent pace – 13:12, 13:14 and 13:14 for laps three to five.

Although his nearest rival, Queensbury RC’s Chris Williams, ate into the cushion by 35 seconds on the final sixth lap, victory was assured in the finishing straight – taking the chequered flag by a sizeable 11 seconds.

After his first ever victory over the 13.1-mile distance, Swannell said: “It was a big confidence boost for forthcoming races, which include the CLGP Radcliffe 10k and Bolton 10k in April.”

Tony Valentine made his first appearance in five months at the Roddlesworth Roller, and although perhaps a little rusty, he was back in the podium groove. The nine-kilometre race over undulating trail terrain from Abbey Village was won by Horwich’s Michael Cayton in 31:55, with Valentine collecting a comfortable but isolated bronze in a field of 177 33:26.

In the Daffodil Doddle, the associated junior run covering a new course of 2.2k, 22 of the 185 field were Blue Vests.

Although racing together in year groups with associated school tags, 15-year-old Rachel Bailey won the girls’ race in 8:17 – 10th overall.

Molly Philbin, aged 12, was fifth, and her eight-year-old sister underlined her potential by coming just two seconds behind 14-year-old Leah Rushworth in the battle for 11th.

George Shepherd was Bolton’s first boy in 43rd, with Joseph Ward four seconds and two places behind.

With Cerys Jones and Jasmine Greenhalgh also associated with BUH&AC at ages four and two, it represented a good return for junior coach Gwylim Jones.

BUH&AC times: Rachel Bailey F15 8:17, Molly Philbin F12 08:46, Leah Rushworth F14 9:21, Lilly Philbin F8 9:23, George Shepherd M15 9:30, Joseph Ward M10 9:34, Porscha Johnson F10 9:43, Jack Vickers M11 9:52, Kevin Longthorne M9 9:54, Joshua Povey M13 10:11, Oliver McNulty M8 10:24, Adam Vickers M8 10:34, Josh Bentley-Hughes M9 10:38, Amy Rossington F9 10:44, Erin Barlow F9 10:45, Jack Openshaw M8 10:49, Sam Philbin M6 11:36, Alexander Stokes M8 11:37, Joseph Rossington M6 12:53, Charlotte Vickers F7 13:06, Cerys Jones F4 14:54, Jasmine Greenhalgh F2 15:03.

Bolton United Harriers host their annual Bolton 10k race on Sunday, April 26.

With seven weeks to go and nearly 400 runners already entered, anyone interested in taking part should go to the event website www.bolton10k.org for more information.