MICHAEL Aspinall took full advantage of dry, crisp conditions to win the Radcliffe AC 12 miles trail race. His time of 67 minutes and 32 seconds was an emphatic 29 seconds inside the previous best for the course.

Michael, aged 20, lives in Radcliffe but runs for Lancaster and Morecambe AC, and his local knowledge helped beat Salford Harrier James Kovac into second place in 70.19, while Manuel da Silva of Thames Valley Harriers was third in 71.48.

Trail race regular and previous winner of the race, Robert Jackson (Horwich RMI) was fourth. Thornton Taylor from Rossendale was best veteran runner, the over-45 beating all the over-40s as he came in fifth overall. Sean McMyler was seventh and first over-40, holding off the challenge of Bury's Dave Cole.

In 12th place was Stockport Harrier Frank Reilly. Now in the over-55 category Frank managed to beat all the over-50s. Jeff Pickup of Clayton-le-Moors was first in the over-50 section. Taking 90 minutes and 21 seconds to win the over-60's section in grand style, Gerrard Navan of Rossendale Harriers made light of the hill-climbs the runners have to contend with, hills which come at the runners between seven and 10 miles just when the runners don't need them! Kendal AC's Rod Berry organiser of the Langdale Marathon, was best over-65.

The course is tough, it is rough in places, it is challenging. It is a good achievement for a runner to complete it. And five over-70 runners did just that, making a good race of it. Derek Clutterbuck, Todmorden Harrier, managed a time of 1.43.18 to come in 124th of the 182 finishers, and first among these tremendous youthful veterans as he held off the challenge of Swinton's Brian Gaskell.

Yorkshire got a look in as Dewsbury's Monique Hollinshead proved quickest of the ladies, the over-35 coming home 37th in 84.32. Candice Leah brought Clayton-le-Moors Harriers more recognition by taking second place, and Susan Catterall, of Northern Vets AC was third lady, winning the over-45s prize as well.

Linda Cheetham of the Belle Vue Aces was best among the over-55 ladies.

There was good local support from Radcliffe people at this event. Manny Aspinall (Michael's dad) was 152nd and fifth over-60, and pleased as punch with his lad's performance. Another Radcliffe resident, Geoff Billington, Achille Ratti AC, was 51st in 86.35, and members of Radcliffe AC were all around the course, making sure nobody went the wrong way.

The club were delighted with what was their most successful trail race to date, and are of course intending to lay on perfect weather conditions at future events.