PICKERING Running Club combatants saw in the new year with a series of muddy races.

Starting and finishing in Robin Hood’s Bay, the Hardmoors 30 was the first in the Grand Slam of four ultra distance races this year.

A figure-of-eight course comprising about 32 miles, the race had runners racing full pelt along the disused railway and then slipping their way along the Cleveland Way coastal path. The conditions were unseasonably mild - an improvement on last year’s hail and wind.

Taking on his first official ultra race, Simon Jones led the team home in a relaxed fashion, finishing 13th in a time of four hours 28 minutes 18 seconds.

Bob Horsman is targeting a maiden 100-mile race this year so this was a warm-up race for him. He completed in 5-14-46.

Hoping to complete the Hardmoors Grand Slam, Simon Ridley raised the bar with a better-than-anticipated performance, being next home for PRC in 5-35-05.

Despite suffering a chest infection, Kim England jogged her way around in order to complete the first Grand Slam race. Her time of 5-43-07 was slower than she wanted, but she was happy to finish.

Philly Hare also chose this race as her first ultra event and, as expected, the smile never left her face. After finishing in 7-53-25, Hare vowed to keep stepping up the distance this year.

The Hardmoors 15 took place at the same time and took runners on the railway to Whitby and back along the Cleveland Way.

Super veteran Mike Hetherton took another category win and was first home for PRC in 2-34-30, despite having enjoyed some New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Close behind him was Lynn Humpleby, who took a couple of tumbles on the slippery course but still completed in 24104.

In her longest race to date, Serena Partridge did well to finish in 3-04-33, tailed by in-form Nicola Wise in 3-09-47.

Dean Wise is getting back into racing after injury and was next back in 3-58-10, with Sadie Pattison not far behind in 4-05-07. Marion Wise completed the line-up seven seconds later.

In Great Ayton, four more PRC runners took on the popular Captain Cooks fell race.

At just over five miles and with 885 feet of ascent, the course is fast in parts, taking runners up to Captain Cook’s monument and back down again. The race had a competitive field of 274 runners - a record turnout.

Finishing 49th overall in 39 minites 26 seconds, PRC's Russ Grayson continued his good run despite a bout of illness.

Showing improving form, Russ Charlton completed in 43-36, with Andy Blades hot on his heels in 43-39.

Rachel Harper was PRC’s only lady competitor and looked strong, finishing sixth in category in 47-16.