Lostock AC members Tony Marlow and Josie Greenhalgh headed to the Darwen Moors to compete in the Mr Sparkles Dark Un Fell Race and put in fine displays.

The race started at the Royal Arms on Tockholes Road at 7.30pm, so head torches were required and it is a popular 5.2-mile and 890 feet ascent race with only 100 entries available.

The route passes Slipper Lowe before crossing the Tockholes Road and climbing the Whitton Way up on to Darwen Moors.

The wind was so strong across the moors, it assisted participants along the route until it turned sharply and headed uphill along Duckshaw Clough into a strong headwind towards the moors. From there, runners headed out of the wind and down a rough track before finishing at the bottom of a field near to the pub.

Marlow had a fantastic race, finishing 35th in 47mins 39secs, while Greenhalgh arrived shortly after as fourth lady and first in her age category in 48:11.

Not content with just racing on Friday, the pair also competed in the Loughrigg Silver Howe Chase on Sunday.

They were joined by fellow Lostocker, Mark Checkley in another tough race covering 8.7 miles and 2,887 feet of climb.

The race started in Ambleside, in the Lake District, and climbed the tough Longhrigg Fell before heading to the summit of Silver How. Participants then turn around and head back to Ambleside, faced with another climb to the top of Longhrigg Fell.

Marlow was the first across the finish line in 1:53:03, followed by Greenhalgh, who despite a nasty fall finished in 2:12:44, and Checkley in 2:42:13.

Rachel Hancock and Rachel Stevens joined 1,266 runners and completed the Mad Dog 10K in Southport.

The race is known for having a different theme every year and this time it was Barkbie (based on Barbie), and participants were encouraged to engage with the theme.

The race started at Stanley High School and then headed along Marine Drive towards Southport.

On a windy day, runners then completed a loop around Pleasure Land and the marina, then joining Marina Drive back to the start with a tail wind resulting in a quick finish. Hancock finished in 52:35, followed by Stevens, in 56:54.

Husband-and-wife due, Martin and Amanda Smith, competed in the Grizedale Trail 13 and 26.

The half-marathon course is the first 13 miles of the marathon route and takes place on forest tracks. It is undulating, with an elevation gain of 1,500 feet, with beautiful views of Coniston and the surrounding areas.

Grizedale Visitor Centre is the finish for the half marathon, but in the full marathon distance runners continue to complete a loop towards Windermere. The terrain is varied, with some road sections.

Martin completed the half-marathon in 2:39:25 and Amanda completed the full marathon in 6:26:16.

Parkrun results: Bolton - Matt Carney 30:03, Sinead Carney 30:45 (second in age category), Rachel Hancock 30:49; Haigh - Amy Laycock 24:43, Ian Burns 30:18; Pennington Flash - Mark Checkley 31:54; The Cinder Track - Paul Edwards 19:20 (fourth and first in age category).