A BUSY time for Pickering Running Club has seen several members placed highly in two different events.

The latest race in the Hardmoors Trail Marathon series was at Saltburn, and PRC were represented in each distance - 10 kilometres, half-marathon and marathon.

The courses were tough, following the undulating Cleveland Way coastal path and involving some tricky navigation. Conditions were also chilly and occasionally very wet. The PRC team handled it well with everyone finishing in the top half of the field.

In the 10k, wily Mike Hetherton completed his first Hardmoors event, finishing as first male over 60 and an impressive sixth overall in 64 minutes 20 seconds.

In the half-marathon, Steve Watson finished fourth overall in one hour 53 minutes 15 seconds, pipping club-mate Simon Jones, who was fifth in 1-53-38.

With the club championships race only five days later and the male over-40 trophy up for grabs, this result foreshadowed what was to come.

Brian Reed returned from a break from racing to clocl 2-31-49.

Brothers-in-law Mike and Richard Todd took on the marathon. The former's aim was to finish strongly without the cramp that plagued him on his first marathon a couple of months ago. He succeeded, finishing fifth overall in 4-28-45. The latter clocked 5-05-26 for finish 18th after a difficult run.

Meanwhile, the annual PRC club championship was held in Dalby Forest.

The 10k route takes runners up the long slog of Heck Dale and back down a fast, tricky descent near Seive Dale.

Twenty-four runners lined up at the start, with some new faces involved.

For the third year running, Jayson Cavill took the winner’s shield, clocking 38-58, almost 90 seconds quicker than last year.

Second home, and winner of the over-40 trophy was Jones in 41-02, his speed narrowly beating Steve Watson in 41-15, also bettering his previous time by over three minutes.

Russ Grayson won a prize for most improved male, coming in fourth in 44-30, taking almost six minutes off his previous time.

Taking the male over-50 trophy for the second year was Paul Smith, finishing in 45-16, followed by Nick Cousins (47-34) and Simon Ridley (47-59).

In the ladies' category, there has been a battle for the past couple of years between Kim England and Lynn Humpleby, with Humpleby’s gritty determination prevailing.

England turned it around this time, pulling away on the climb and finishing strongly to take the first lady trophy in 48-27, a minute off last year's time.

Humpleby was second, taking the female over-35 trophy, in 51-24, followed by over-50 winner Tess Roebuck in 53-42.

Maintaining her improvement, Serena Partridge finished in 53-54, knocking over five minutes off her time and winning the female improver prize.