Last weekend was one focused on half-marathons for Lostock AC members with some notable performances.

On Saturday morning, six Lostockers took part in the Rivington Trail Half Marathon - a tough 13.1-mile course with a challenging elevation gain of more than 1,350 feet.

This is a fantastic local race, raising funds for Chorley Women’s football team. Starting and finishing at Rivington and Blackrod High School, a lap of the football field bookends a stunning, tough, undulating, sometimes extremely wet and muddy, circuit of Lower Rivington, Upper Rivington, Yarrow and Anglezarke reservoirs and an out-and-back at White Coppice.

The first mile is tough, as the race starts with a steep 330 feet. Andy Laycock started with an early lead and was the first Lostocker over the finish line in hugely impressive 1hr 59mins.

Nikki Hamerton, Brian Halton and Gareth Pratt battled it out for second place. Halton had a good start but pulled a calf muscle and had to slow his pace.

Pratt was victorious finishing in 2:06:25, shortly followed by Hamerton, in 2:07:55, and Halton, in 2:16:05. Kath Orrell finished in 2:21:16 and Katie Edern clocked 2:37:54.

On Sunday, five Lostockers joined 18,500 runners at the Manchester Half-marathon. The race starts at Old Trafford then heads towards Manchester City Centre, and before entering the city participants completed a U-turn and headed out to Sale. The course then returned back to Old Trafford via Chorlton.

Celebrating his birthday by running the race, Dave Parry was the first Lostock AC member to finish in an amazing 1:35:27, securing a new personal best.

He was shortly followed by Jo McManus, in 1:43:19, Anthony Maxwell (1:54:53), Lynda Hardman (2:10:30) and Sheila Garewal (2:11:57).

Gaz Foulkes and Rachel Stevens travelled to London to take part in the iconic Royal Parks Half Marathon. The race starts in Hyde Park before heading out through Wellington Arch and Green Park, past Buckingham Palace and then along St James Park. Runners then see some fantastic sights including the Houses of Parliament, 10 Downing Street and Trafalgar Square before heading along The Mall back towards the Palace.

At the five-mile point, runners re-enter Hyde Park and the final eight miles circle the narrow paths of the park.

This was an extremely busy event with 18,000 participants. Foulkes had a fantastic race getting a new half-marathon PB and finishing in 1:43:01. He was running to raise money for the charity Tommy’s and to date has raised more than £800.

Stevens started in a later wave and spent most of the race overtaking other runners. Knowing it was not going to be a day to beat any records, she enjoyed the course, taking photos and videos, completing the race in 2:04:22.

Parkrun results: Bolton - Rachel Hancock 37:29; Haigh Woodland - Chris Baker 24:33, Ian Burns 30:36; Lough Key - Matt Carney 25:25; Pennington Flash - Mark Checkley 28:44.