LAKE Vyrnwy has been a happy hunting ground for John Hartley this year.

For the Clayton Harrier completed a unique double finishing as the first over forty at the annual half marathon -- just as he had in the full marathon a couple of months ago.

And John underlined his rich vein of form by following his feats across the border by finishing 10th in the Manchester Marathon with a time of 2:39:19.

This time the runners had to run just once around the lake, which is something of a sprint for John who has run six full marathons since April.

He must have been full of confidence too after setting a PB 2:35:14 over the two lap course, and subsequently winning the Wolverhampton Marathon.

In a field of close on a thousand runners he finished 12th in 1:12:42.

Darwen Dashers had included the race in their club championship after the Swinton Half Marathon was postponed.

Husband and wife team Sheila and Shane Gudgeon had posted good reports of the marathon and the club filled a minibus with an enthusiastic squad.

The race itself is flat apart from a climb in the first three quarters of a mile and a matching descent at the end, so there were fast times aplenty. Eric Wilson emerged from the large pack to finish 23rd and second over forty five in 1:17:40, while Shane, Simon Smith, John Sirkett and Red Rose athlete Peter Nickson all cracked 1:30.

Three over fifty supervets from Accrington Road Runners ran strongly too with Jimmy Smithson and Peter Blackledge finishing together in 1:46, and Barry Breckell getting round in 1:31 to register a top 200 finish.

Because of the long journey back from Mid Wales, Shane shepherded the Dashers into the minibus and set off before Eric had received his prize. Within minutes they were parked up at the first pub with a dish, staying to watch the entire Rovers game at Portman Road!

Results: Men: 1 Larry Mathews (Thames Hare and Hounds) 1:05:08, 12 (1st M40) John Hartley (C) 1:12:42, 23 (2nd M45) Eric Wilson (D) 1:17:40, 40 Shane Gudgeon (D) 1:27:38, 141 Simon Smith (D) 1:27:41, 154 (M45) Peter Nickson (Red Rose RR) 1:28:28, 161 (M40) John Sirkett (D) 1:28:46, 197 (M40) Mark Cardwell (D) 1:31:28, 199 (M50) Barry Breckell (A) 1:31:35, 331 (M50) George Thompson (C) 1:40:00, 433 (M50) Jimmy Smithson (A) 1:46:07, 434 (M50) Peter Blackledge (A) 1:46:12, 624 James Tyler (Todmorden) 2:08:03

Women: 1 Amanda Allen (Birchfield) 1:12:43, 25 Linda Clarkson (D) 1:36:18, 64 (F45) Sheila Gudgeon (D) 1:46:22

Key: A-Accrington RR, C-Clayton Harriers, D-Darwen Dashers