VALE Royal Athletics Club competitors were out in force over the weekend participating in events across the country.

In the Run Through Tatton Park 10K, Julia Hartley was fourth woman overall and second in the over 50s women age group.

Twenty-six represented the club at the fifth and final fixture of the Manchester Area Cross Country League held at hilly Heaton Park.

Sam Conkie took the win in the U13 boys race while Nancy Carrington came third in the U13 girls race.

Helen Smith was first VF50 in the senior women’s race and Ryan Moore came a magnificent sixth in the senior men’s race.

Meanwhile over in Loughborough, Leicestershire, the final of the British Cross Challenge was taking place at Prestwold Hall.

This event incorporates the Inter-County Championships and 17 of Vale Royal athletes ran for Cheshire.

Performances of the day came from the Cheshire senior women’s team which took seventh and Cheshire U20 women’s team which finished a brilliant fifth overall.

Liz Renondeau was first athlete home for the county in 40th place while Sarah Murphy was sixth scorer in 103rd.

Holly Weedall was first Cheshire athlete in her race.

In the senior men’s race, re-emerging talent John Humphries was second Cheshire man over the line closely followed by Nathan Williams.

Darcey Murphy and Harry Parker McLain both enjoyed top 80 performances in their respective U17 races

Moving on to Sunday’s Chester 10K, Arun Dight made his debut at the distance finishing in a remarkable 16th place.

Debbie Broad, repping her England master’s vest once more, was third VF55 and 47th woman overall.

Up in Lancaster, Aaron Doyle blitzed the Golden Ball 10-mile race around Lancaster to win in a new club record for the distance by two seconds.

Down in Stafford, Graham Miles took on the half marathon and was 123rd in 89:33

Down south, Ed Shepherd and Kate Moulds raced at the Surrey Half Marathon, with Ed taking an easy victory in 66:49 and Kate coming over the line as seventh woman in 82:15.

Debbie Moreton and Lou Walker represented the club in the High Legh 10K.

Moreton was 163rd overall and 35th woman in 50:19, while Walker was 174th and 41st woman in 51:14.

Over at Sportcity, Manchester, in the final fixture of the Sale Harriers’ winter indoor series, Patrick Griffith was second in his 600m heat in a season’s best 1:22.99, while Dylan Carney was third in 1:24.60 and William Ashfield fifth in a personal best 1:24.90.