UNTIL this year John Hartley had only run three marathons, but on Sunday he ran his seventh of the season at Manchester - and he is planning to do another this weekend!

What is most surprising is that he can maintain such a high standard.

At Manchester he was the first local finisher despite a strong East Lancashire presence where five of our athletes broke three hours. The first three were Clayton Harriers, with John, Peter Butterworth and Raymond Lees, while Darwen Dasher Andy Smith trimmed his PB by a minute to edge clear of Mick Nester of Blackburn Road Runners.

Sheila Gudgeon of Darwen Dashers was our highest finisher in the ladies contest and there were strong performances from Blackburn Road Runners Norma Smith and Anne Harwood who placed second and third in the F55 division.

Chorley AC's John Swift was another top three finisher taking the third prize for males over 60.

There was added interest in the race this year as a new course gave athletes their first chance to race over next year's Commonwealth Games route, and over a 1000 runners took the opportunity.

It was the second major long distance event in a week, and our results sequence includes the Great North Run as promised.

Manchester Marathon - Good for Age

Men: 1 Chris Caris (Bingley) 2:25:23, 10 (M40) John Hartley (C) 2:39:19, 39 (M45) Peter Butterworth (C) 2:50:12, 41 (M45) Raymond Lees (C) 2:50:33, 47 Andy Smith (D) 2:51:09 PB, 50 (M45) Mick Nester (BRR) 2:51:41, 101 Brent Hoggan (A) 3:00:39, 127 (M45) Tony Hurn (D) 3:03:42, 169 (M50) Jimmy Smithson (A) 3:09:38, 181 (M40) Alan Clarkson (C) 3:11:07, 265 (3rd M60) John Swift (CAC) 3:20:49, 377 (M55) John Mitchell (BRR) 3:31:48, 442 (M50) Mick Chimecjzuk (BRR) 3:39:38, 784 (M65) Brian Newton (A) 4:13:38

Women: 1st Lady/48th overall Kerrie Wood (Stockport) 2:51:26, 657 (F45) Sheila Gudgeon (D) 3:57:44, 691 (F45) Brenda Fullard (BRR) 4:01:01, 695 (2nd F55) Norma Smith (BRR) 4:01:13, 795 Madeline Haworth (BRR) 4:15:11, 806 (3rd F55) Anne Harwood (BRR) 4:17:22

Key: A-Accrington RR, BRR-Blackburn RR, C-Clayton Harriers, CAC-Chorley AC, D-Darwen Dashers

Great North Run - results

Elite Men: 1 Paul Tergat (Kenya) 1:00:30, 16 Andy Morgan-Lee (Salford) 1:05:41, 45 Ben Fish (Blacburn Harriers) 1:11:55, 87 Paul Brannigan (Todmorden) 1:16:10, 389 David Gaskill (Accrington RR) 1:25:11, 430 Mick Casey (Red Rose) 1:25:54 Elite Women: 1 Susan Chepkemei (Kenya) 1:08:40, 23 Pauline Powell (Blackburn Harriers) 1:17:48

Club Runners: Accrington RR: 2908 Jane Grundy 1:42:33, 3592 Derek Atheis 1:44:54, Brian Scully 1:44, 5746 John Allan 1:51:34, 7724 Colin Goodwin 1:56:57, 15659 Alison Hope 2:13:39 Blackburn RR: 4869 Phil White 1:49:08, 13260 Debbie Rudland 2:08:50, 13453 Geraldine Huddleston 2:09:13, 15943 Liona Riding 2:14:25, 16901 Alison Bury 2:16:36, 23353 Lynda Mason 2:31:42, 23357 Irene Sziler 2:31:44, 23362 Elaine Kemp 2:31:45, 24944 Ruth Basquill 2:36:22 Darwen Dashers: 2758 William Fogg 1:41:59, 3252 John Barnes 1:43:37, 17607 Julia Rushton 2:18:04 Lancashire Police: 20259 Paul Hogan 2:24:22 Pendle Forest Orienteers: 1358 Allan Yeomans 1:34:25 Todmorden: 23607 Simon Anderton 2:32:25 West Pennine: 16564 Andrew Biddle 2:15:56, 28133 Ken Sibbering 2:48:08, 28135 Granville Staff 2:48:08