MICHAEL Aspinall was a convincing winner of Radcliffe AC's annual 12-mile trail race.

He took control from the start, taking a 30-second lead at the four-mile stage.

The tough part of the course is the hilly section between seven and 10 miles and this was where Michael built up an increasing lead.

He extended his lead to six minutes as he finished in 1hr 6mins 33secs, breaking his course record again. Although he is from Radcliffe, Michael is a member of Lancaster and Morecambe AC while at Lancaster University.

His fellow club member, Louise Gardner, came first in the ladies and his younger sister, Alison won the junior ladies.

Organisers Tom West and Bill Armstrong were well pleased with event, which continues to go from strength to strength and has become a popular race to which many of the local running fraternity keep on returning.

Radcliffe AC's A team, of Adrian Harris, Tony Davis, Steve Hamer and Neil Kirby came a respectable 16th in the Wilf Richards Cross-Country Relays at Heaton Park.

Dave Bartlett, Mark Cartwright, Jim Sutcliffe and Andy Mullarkey who turned up late after feeling unwell and ran the club's fastest lap of the day - took 24th place, relegating Brian Booth, John Young, Mark Williams and Mark Emmett to 25th.

The ladies teams have three runners, and in fifth place were Donna Allen, Glenda Garry and Sue Maney, putting up an excellent effort. Eileen Royle, Denise Sutcliffe and Kath Davies claimed 13th spot.