LOCAL lad Michael Aspinall was the convincing winner of Radcliffe Athletic Club's annual 12-mile trail race.

He took control from the start, taking a 30 seconds lead by the time he reached Agecroft Road Bridge at just over four miles.

The tough part of the course is between seven and ten miles, and this was where Michael built up an ever-increasing lead.

The last two miles along the canal and Sion Street, saw him extend it to six minutes, finished in 1hr 6min 33 sec, his own course record having been broken again.

He is a member of Lancaster and Morecambe AC while at Lancaster University, and as a runner is proving to be highly talented.

There was further celebration for Michael as fellow club member Louise Gardner came first among the ladies and younger sister Alison, just 17, completed the run to win the prize for first Junior Lady.

Salford's Ken Chapman was second and previous winner Robert Jackson, of Horwich RMI, came in third.

Sarah Charnock of St Helens and Sutton was second lady, followed in by the over-35 winner Karen Hutchinson of Horwich.Susan Leaver put in a great effort to win the over-40s.

There were some stirring performances among the veteran men Alex Rowe won the over-45s, beating all the over-40s while he was at it, and his clubmate from the Wesham Running Club Dave Waywell, beat all the over-50s and over-55s to take the over-60s prize.

Dave's time of 1.20.07 will take some beating among the over-60s.

Four over-70s completed the demanding course, the remarkable Derek Clutterbuck, of Todmorden Harriers, proving to be the swiftest among them, while another Tomorden runner, Moira Parfitt, completed the race having passed the age of 60.

The club's runners got their fix of fresh air the previous day as 20 turned out for the Wilf Richards Cross-Country Relays at Heaton Park.

The lap comprises just over three miles of pleasant parkland, at the end of which the runner has to contend with a long, arduous hill-climb to the finish.

Adrian Harris, Tony Davis, Steve Hamer and Neil Kirby brought the A Team home in a respectable 16th place; while Dave Bartlett, Mark Cartwright, Jim Sutcliffe and Andy Mullarkey - who turned up late after feeling unwell and ran the club's fastest lap of the day took 24th place, relegating Brian Booth, John Young, Mark Williams and Mark Emmett to 25th.

Steve Higginbottom and Lesley Shirley made up half a team, and were of course available to ensure the other teams had a full complement.

The ladies teams have three runners, and in 5th place were Donna Allen, Glenda Garry and Sue Maney. While Eileen Royle, Denise Sutcliffe and Kath Davies claimed 13th spot.