THE sun shone for the final race of the York Road Race League summer series - shining a spotlight on the achievements of Pickering Running Club.

Members gathered for the handicap race at Stillington as club runners from across the York area battled it out in the fun foot race.

They set off at staggered intervals according to their performance in the previous six 10-kilometre races with Pickering’s Paul Tate-Smith and Serena Partridge among the first 25 finishers.

But it was Mike Hetherton who had the loudest cheers of the evening when he picked up an age group win, claiming the over-60s male trophy for yet another year.

Meanwhile a bunch of intrepid PRC members challenged themselves to an altogether different event – an off-road night race taking in gruelling moorland climbs over six or 10 miles.

The third Hardmoors night race started at the Lordstones Café in warm and slippery conditions.

Both courses followed an “out and back” route along the Cleveland Way with the shorter race lit up along Carlton Bank, down to Scugdale and back. Following a recent break due to injury, Sadie Patterson showed she meant business, setting a determined pace on the six-mile route to bag her first ever placing, coming third lady in one hour 37 minutes 38 seconds. This was despite a hard day’s running with the Hardmoors training camp.

On the extended route, which continued to Cringle Moor and Cold Moor and took in more than 2,500 feet of ascent, Jayson Cavill was the winner in 1-22-30.

Simon Ridley finished in 2-13-52 with Kim England using the race to help a newcomer to trial running around the course.

A group of Pickering newcomers proved their mettle when they took on a tough 10km event in Dalby Forest earlier this month.

Competitors in The No Ego Challenge faced slippery steep hills and natural obstacles including fallen trees, exposed roots and overhanging trees.

First PRC lady was Sally Steadman in 1-22-06 – her first 10km after completing the PRC beginners’ course last month.

She was followed by Sally Raines (1-26-41), Lucie Puling (1-30-32), Ailish Lilley (1-33-24) and Corrie Robertson (1-45-00).

Fellow beginners’ course graduate Pam Cockerill took part in the Leeds 10km last Sunday with a chip time of 1-16-25.

Raines, who helped to organise the beginners’ course, said: “The ‘graduates’ have come so far since they started the course just a few weeks ago. They all showed determination and commitment - they should be proud of their efforts.”