MORE than 250 athletes travelled from across the region to take part in the second Lancaster Three Bridges 10k last weekend.

Held to celebrate Lancaster's Millennium Riverside Park and the new Millennium Bridge, the flat and very scenic course took competitors up the riverside from Salt Ayre to the Lune Aqueduct and back, taking in the Millennium Bridge and Skerton Bridge along the way.

The men's race provided a comfortable victory for locally based Bingley Harrier, Mark Croasdale, who finished well clear of second placed Ben Fish (Blackburn Harriers) in a time of 32.21.

Croasdale's performance was remarkable coming just a week after he had competed in the London Marathon.

Third was Steve Angus (Border Harriers) who fought a hard battle with fourth placed John Wieczorek and fifth placed Andy Fell.

Star of the local athletes was Lancaster & Morecambe's Louise Gardner, who won the women' s' race in 38.02, more than a minute and a half clear of her nearest challenger.

Other local athletes to feature in the prizes included Frank McTominay (first male veteran 40), Glenis Donaldson (first female veteran 35), and the evergreen Evelyn Elkington (first female veteran over 55).

The team prize went to Wesham Road Runners.

Celebrities taking part in the race included running legend Ron Hill and local MP Hilton Dawson.

Special thanks go to the race sponsors, BusinessServe plc and Persimmon Homes, whose generous support meant that the race was able to offer a good range of prizes and a commemorative t-shirt to every finisher.

Invaluable support was also given by Salt Ayre Sports Centre and Pete Bland Sports of Kendal.

The organisers also wish to thank all those who helped out as marshals, race officials, and other helpers on the day.