A 19-STRONG Lostock AC team headed to Mytholmroyd on Saturday for The Hebden, the fell race that for many marks the start of the race season.

Starting and finishing in Mytholmroyd, both the 15-mile and 22-mile races visit the remote, unforgiving Calderdale West Pennine Moors around Hebden Bridge including Edge End Moor and the Stoodley Pike monument.

While weather conditions were dry initially with good visibility The Hebden remains a challenging of run for even the most experienced fell and ultra runners.

Leading home the Lostock contingent in the 15-mile event was Samantha Sale, running as a pair with Abigail Sunter, in 3hrs 15mins.

Nikki Hamerton and Barry Wroe, in their first Hebden, followed home in 3:31 and 3:34, followed by Michele Sunter (3:48), Rachel Hancock (4:04) and Jocelyn Chadderton.

In the 22-mile race Toney Donnelly was first home for Lostock in 3:44. Dave Colgan and Albert Sunter finished in a group of runners all with times of 3:57, followed by Tony Marlow (4.02), Mark Shuttleworth (4:10), Josie Greenhalgh (4:16), Chris Taylor (4:44), James Jackson (4:56) Mark Sammon (5:03), Mike Ernill and Kerry Vardon in 5:11 and Paul Lacey in 5:31.

Closer to home, all five women in the Lostock AC cross-country team scored age-group top-10 finishes at the third race of the South East Lancashire Cross Country League.

Rearranged from a waterlogged Tandle Hill to Heaton Park, Melonie Crompton came home in 37:18 followed by debutant Janet Rhodes in 37:59. Christine Smith finished in 47:53, Gillian Caldwell in 48:17 and Kate Rotheram in 49:03. Mike Berry finished the men’s race in 56:19.

In his first race of 2020 Gareth Pratt was more than pleased with his time of 54:07 at the Mast 10k in Bolton.

Ian Taylor continued to demonstrate his abilities over all race distances with a quick time of 20:40 at Worsley Woods parkrun, while at Haigh Woodland Gareth Pratt warmed up for the Mast 10k in a time of 23:18, with Fran Corcoran coming in at 31:18.