Kieran romps to convincing victory in Llangollen race

The event offers a choice of five, 10 and 17-mile races and Manchester led the field home at the shortest distance, finishing nearly seven minutes ahead of the rest of the field.

Mike Richards was the only Valley runner to run the middle distance option of 10 miles and it proved to be an excellent strategy as he claimed a maximum 100 club championship points.

A field of nine club racers took on the 18-mile route and newly retired Bill Johnson was clearly well rested and trained-up as he secured first V60 prize and 12th position overall.

Stella Chrisanthou was the first Valley woman home and she came second in her age category.

CVFR times – Five miles: Kieran Manchester 40:57, Daniel Holt 1:17:16. 10 miles: Mike Richards 1:50:14. 17 miles: Virgil Barton 2:51:33, Bill Johnson 2:51:57, Mark Barnabas 3:04:13, Stella Chrisanthou 3:12:34, Daniel Thompson 3:22:39, Andrew Wright 3:23:24, Trish Smith 3:23:29, Neil Thorpe 3:33:07, Mark Wharton 3:45:18.

Gain Mulholland and Francis Wooff took part in the Wardle Skyline, an 11k race around the tops of Rochdale, with 381m of ascent.

Mulholland demonstrated tenacity and talent to claim top spot in the MV50 category and second place overall.

Wooff was 64th overall with a time of 1:16:38.

The first Bunny Run of the year was staged at Penistone Hill over the Easter holiday period and the series of three-mile family-friendly races offered a great opportunity for the juniors to run alongside the seniors.

The course consists of a small loop, the ‘egg stage’, and a larger loop before the long lap to the finish.

Siblings Clara and Thomas McKee were the female and male victors overall and the fastest in their categories to complete the egg stage.

They were joined by Joseph Stone who has returned from injury and secured fifth place overall and second in the boys U18 age group. Ted Parker finished in the top five in his category.

Mark Wharton hopped over the line to take first MV60 and Stanley Knowles produced a fine run in the under-14s race.

CVFR results: 1 Tom McKee 16:12, 5 Joseph Stone 17:14, 8 Clara McKee 17:24 (1st F/1st GU18), 27 Ted Parker 19:28, 38 Cam Rushworth 20:20, 47 Sam Cameron 20:37, 54 Mark Wharton 21:20 (1st MV60), 87 Stanley Knowles 23:30, 101 Cat Gannon 24:49, 112 Richard Henderson 25:30, 159 Alistair Stone 30:00.

The Calderdale Hike, which raises money for Calderdale Search and Rescue, offers three route lengths and attracts runners and walkers from all over the UK.

The routes change every three years or so to take in different parts of the Calderdale and Pennine countryside.

Kevin Hoult, competing in the 35-mile race, was the star of the show for Valley, claiming first overall and finishing in just over five hours.

Cat Gannon and Cameron Rushworth teamed-up for the 16-mile route and finished in seventh and eighth positions respectively in 4:06.