BLACKBURN Harriers’ Ben Fish warmed up for the Manchester Marathon by racing to a top-10 finish in the Wilmslow Half Marathon.

The popular annual event, which this year featured 4,079 finishers, was won by Uganda’s Ben Siaw in 64 minutes and 57 seconds.

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But Fish was not far behind in 67mins 45secs, a season’s best time good enough to earn him eighth place.

He said: “I was expecting to be a minute quicker but I feel I’m still making progress. There are definitely better results to come.”

Fish’s Blackburn Harriers clubmate Chris Davies, who is preparing for his second marathon, when he runs London, also produced an impressive performance.

He passed the post in a personal best time of 67mins 45secs to finish 66th.

Davies said: “I was looking for a strong run and managed to knock a few seconds of the PB so I was really pleased and things are looking good so far for London.”

Dave Lord led the way for Trawden AC, finishing 218th in a season’s best time of 85mins 13secs.

Hot on his heels was clubmate Christina Singleton, who was the 21st fastest female and 248th overall in a personal best time of 86mins 28secs.

Blackburn Harriers’ Karl Billington, meanwhile, powered to second place at the Eastleigh 10k, just three seconds behind the winner in 30mins 50secs.

Closer to home Barlick Fell Runners’ Gary Shaw turned in a cracking display to claim fourth place in the Trimpell 20 in one hour 57mins 6secs.

He was followed by Rossendale Harriers’ Alan Lundberg-Bury, who was the fastest MV50 and ninth overall in 2hrs 4mins 19secs, and Clayton-le-Moors Harriers’ Paul Thompson, who was one place behind in 10th in 2hrs 4mins 45secs.

Ironman Brian Fogarty (22nd in 2hrs 11mins 16secs) led the way for Blackburn Harriers, Martin Wilcock (27th in 2hrs 11mins 50secs) for Accrington Road Runners and Robert Walsh (2hrs 13mins 18secs) for Chorley Athletic & Triathlon Club.

Trawden AC’s David McCabe, meanwhile, claimed 14th spot, in 58mins 32secs, in the Rivock Edge Fell Race in Silsden.

Over at the Goal-Den Girls 10k in Blackpool Clayton-le-Moors Harriers duo Amanda Duffy and Elizabeth Mullan were fifth and sixth in 48mins 58secs and 49mins respectively.