ATHLETICS: RADCLIFFE AC’s chairman Mark Emmett has been proving that competition can be stiff at any age.

Emmett has been battling it out with a rival to be the top vet 50 in the popular 18th running of the Sweatshop Park Series.

It involves four races in Astley Park, Chorley on a 5k multi-terrain course and, after the third, Emmett is leading 2-1 in his age group. But it was a close run thing after he and the Blackburn Road Runners man had been in joint first after two events.

In the third race Emmett ran 22mins 28secs, two seconds faster than the previous race, and fought all the way with no more than 10 seconds between him and his rival throughout.

He was overtaken on the second lap but managed to pass the Blackburn runner on the downhill section and stayed ahead to the fininsh. The final race in the series, organised by Chorley AC, takes place tomorrow (Friday).

Meanwhile, three Radcliffe members took training to a serious level when they walked and jogged the Yorkshire Three Peaks, Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough at weekend.

Eileen Royle, Kath Davies and Alan Sumner joined members of Edgworth Runners to complete 24 miles and 5,000 ft of climbing in 8hrs 40mins.