MICHAEL RICHMOND was first home for Pickering Running Club at the third event in the Dave Parry Let's Run Winter Fell Race Series, the Saltergate Gallows.

With over 1,600 ft of elevation and 12.5 miles of tricky terrain this is one of the more challenging runs of the series, and though there was sunshine, there were also plenty of boggy patches and technical gradients to slow them down.

Richmond cruised across the line in 1 hour 40 minutes, earning him second in category, followed closely by Simon Rycroft (1.43). Boyd Brad (1.49) finished strongly, backed up by Phil Smith (1.50). Veteran fell-runner Mike Wilson crossed in 2.03.

Kelly Gaughan (1.47) was third lady overall. Kirsty Brown (2.07) enjoyed the event, while Serena Partridge (2.24) came home second in category.

Nick Cousins finished in 2.19, with Graham Robinson (3.25) following up as second in category.

PRC members Russ Grayson and Debbie Rycroft swept the course to ensure all runners had returned safely and the moors were left undisturbed, while other PRC representatives took on other volunteering roles organised by Kim Cavill.

At the annual six-mile Dalby Dash, Doug Lacey was first back for PRC in 39 minutes 32 seconds.

The race takes runners up a 500ft climb out of the valley bottom in Dalby Forest then, after a mile of fairly flat running at the top, runners are treated to the two-mile dash back down.

Organised by Darren Bilton, the race starts with a two-minute silence and raises funds for Help for Heroes.

Lacey finished the race second in category and second local man. He was closely followed by Shane Olley (40:22), with Paul Smith (44:20), Paul Robinson (44:48) and Richard Johnson (44:52) following up. Michael Hetherton (46:27) had a brilliant run, earning him first in category, backed up by Martyn Warwick (48:22) and Matt Knight (53:47).

Ruth Kaftirani (47:03) was first PRC lady back, with Lynn Humpleby (49:54), Louise Raines (54:21), Alice Hayter (58:20), Amanda Welburn-Smith (58:51), Clare Mawrey (59:55), Heather Farrow (62:57) and Kat Smith (72:19) in tow.

Further afield, Bridget Houlston completed the Gower Marathon - which features 3,500ft of climbing, plus a half-mile on soft sand - in an impressive five hours and 36 seconds, placing her as sixth lady and 32nd overall.