A BUMPER turnout of 14 Lostockers joined a field of 72 entrants for the return of the Jubilee Series for the first time since 2019.

The event also happened to be race four of six in the midweek championships and was over a re-designed two-lap course - now five-and-a-half miles, hillier and with a trail section about half a mile long.

From the start, it was straight uphill and then on to cobbly, stony trails - also uphill - until a drop down by Yarrow Reservoir and back on to the road, past the Yew Tree and then up Nickleton Brow before turning left on New Road and left again on Horrobin Lane going downhill .

Speedster Paul Edwards and Suleman Badat shot off at the start, not to be seen again until the finish.

Gareth Pratt thought he had started pretty strongly along with Hazel Hatfield until James Jackson went sauntering past them after about half a mile.

Hatfield and Pratty kept each other company for most of the race with the lead chopping and changing between them, always aware that Janet Rhodes and Johanna McManus were not too far behind judging by the cheers of the amazing on-course support from the green army.

There were some top performances all round from Team Green, highlights in what was a very strong race including a fantastic sixth place from Edwards, 12th place from Badat, Hatfield was fourth female and Lostock new boy Kilshaw completed his very first race, not just for Lostock, but ever.

The only sour note was Mike Berry pulling a hamstring on the second lap.

Lostock results: 6. Paul Edwards - 33:58.35, 12. Suleman Badat - 36:10.55, 31. James Jackson - 41:59.20, 32. Gareth Pratt - 42:07.49, 33. Hazel Hatfield - 42:14.70, 42. Janet Rhodes - 44:02.62, 44. Jo McManus - 44:43.11, 49. Ian Johnson - 47:07.37, 50. Mike Berry - 47:56.54, 52. Tony Maxwell - 48:08.35, 57. Ian Burns - 50:59.31, 62. Greg Kilshaw - 52:18.64, 66. Rachel Stevens - 53:09.87, 67. Sheila Garewal - 55:40.28.

On Saturday, four Lostock members travelled to Manchester where Ian Johnson competed in the Great Manchester half marathon, while Johanna McManus, Rachel Stevens and Lourdes Corlett took part in the 10k race.

The event saw 25,000 runners pounding the streets of Manchester which took place on the fifth anniversary of the terrorist attack on the Arena and was a fantastic show of unity.

The run had a positive vibe with a lovely tribute to the victims made at the beginning of the race.

The races started on Portland Street, heading out of the city and taking in sights such as Old Trafford, the Etihad Stadium and the Imperial War Museum North.

The finish line was waiting on Deansgate and runners were presented with a medal containing the image of a bee.

Johnson completed the half marathon in an impressive 1:47:00, while the first across the line for Lostock in the 10k was McManus in 45:21, followed by Corlett in 51:03 and Stevens in 56:06.