MICK Nester was the winning M45 in Sunday's Potteries Marathon at Stoke. The Blackburn Road Runner finished 23rd of 950 competitors in 2:55:52. Rossendale's Andy Payne was the highest placed local,15th in 2:51:09, while three Accrington Road Runners ran sub 3:30 races -- Brent Hoggan 3:11:53, Jimmy Smithson 3:14:40 and Martin Bland 3:28:12. It was Smithson's third Marathon in six weeks -- with Leeds and Blackpool the others -- and he's broken 3:15 each time. Not bad for an athlete in his fifties! No Payn for John JOHN Payn of Chorley AC won the 3000m walk in the Northern Vets Championships at Warrington, coming first in the over 65's race in a superb time of 18 mins 47secs. Last year he was British Road Race Walking Champion for 50km, and won a bronze medal in the World Championships. Roger's charge ROGER Brewster of Clayton was the winning veteran in last Sunday's Freckleton Half Marathon. The race attracted nearly 500 runners with Brewster finishing sixth in 1:10:38, just the first local as Richard Thomas of Darwen Dashers finished seventh in a PB of 1:10:51.

Both clubs had further success with Ted Orrell first M60 in 1:27:53 for Clayton, and Darwen Dashers ladies winning the team prize with Linda Clarkson, Sue Corsini and Sheila Gudgeon. Accrington's Terry Robinson was fourth M55 on his 55th birthday. Pauline's bronze BLACKBURN Harriers' England International Pauline Powell won a bronze medal at the Northern Championships. Pauline logged 16:40.04 in the ladies 5000m at Liverpool. Triathlon winners ATHLETES from Clitheroe Dolphins Swimming Club won three individual and three team titles at the North of England Summer Modern Triathlon Championships at Warrington.

Julie Pym was first in the ladies masters (over 35) while 12-year-old Louise Highton won her class. Bryn Phillip, nine, won the Biathlon which includes the run and swim but excludes the shoot. The 12-year-old girls, 11-year-old girls and ladies masters were all team winners. Runners-up CHORLEY Harriers' ladies team finished second in the Haigh Hall 5M last Wednesday, beaten only by hosts Wigan Phoenix. Scorers included Anna Crabtree who was third F35 and Bernice Greenhalgh the second F45. Linda Clarkson of Darwen Dashers was seventh lady in 32:37, while Blackburn Road Runner Norma Smith was third F50. Clayton Harrier Graham Cunliffe was second M45 and the leading East Lancs athlete with a time of 27:25. Race winners were Dave Norman of Altrincham and Lisa Heyes of Salford.