RADCLIFFE Athletic Club were out in numbers at the Rochdale 10k.

For Radcliffe's runners this was the latest round in their road race championship, while for Rossendale's international David Lewis it was a low key return from injury as he tries to recapture top form.

If the race was low key he certainly raised its tempo, winning by a clear minute in 30 mins 48 secs as Middleton's Bill Crowley narrowly lost out to Todmorden's Jon Cordingley for second place.

It was not too long before a Radcliffe vest got to the finish: Adrian Harris was 19th (third O/40) in 34.20. Alec Steele grabbed 2second O/45 place, 35th in 35.49, while Chris Mycock ended up 37th (36.00).

Mike Howard posted a good time of 36.39 to hold off Tony Holt, who was 58th in 37.40. Two Radcliffians together next, as Mark Emmett, 85th stayed a place in front of Fred Bennett 39.20 to 39.21. Peter Lambert, now over 40, took 112th in 40.37, which maintained a half minute margin over the improving Mark Jackson, 120th. The yellow vests of Radcliffe piled in over the finish line with O/45 Brian Booth (131st, 41.35), Darren Street (140th, 42.14), Colin McDonagh (149th, 42.47), Arthur Warren (O/45, 156th, 43.03), Tom West (O/55, 163rd, 43.52), Iain Harris (O/45, 167th, 44.14), junior runner Dave Bartlett (178th, 44.44) and O/50 Gordon Kay (191, 45.46).

Radcliffe's best lady on the night was Linda McDonagh, 224th in 48.53. Les Elkins trundled in 244th in 52.26 and three more of the club's ladies completed the contingent: Gina Holt 256th in 54.10, o/40 Ann Booth 259th in 55.51 and Joan Emmett 264th in 57.53, finishing off a good night for Radcliffe on which the runners go the club noticed.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.