PERSONAL bests were a distinct possibility for members of Pickering Running Club as they took on the annual Snake Lane race in Pocklington.

The 10-mile route took its 1,571 competitors along closed lanes and tracks through the foothills of the Wolds to Bishop Wilton and back.

And with the rain stopping just in time and conditions strangely warm and humid, some quick times seemed to be on the cards.

First back for Pickering was Ryan Gaughan in a blistering 59 minutes and 30 seconds, followed by Ben Myers in 63 minutes and seven seconds.

Simon Jones’ time of 63 minutes and 32 seconds placed him an impressive fourth out of 101 competitors in the M55 category.

Mike Richmond was next in 64 minutes and 50 seconds, whilst Kelly Richmond achieved a 10-mile personal best with her time of 65 minutes and 19 seconds.

She was closely followed by Simon Rycroft in 65 minutes and 48 seconds, then came Richard Robinson in 73 minutes and 43 seconds.

Karen Farmer-Scott also achieved a 10-mile personal best with her time of 78 minutes and 17 seconds, as did Serena Partridge when she crossed the line in 80 minutes and four seconds.

Lucy Saggers was next in 82 minutes and six seconds, followed by Julie Ventress in 85 minutes and 38 seconds, another personal best.

Chris Adams was close behind in 86 minutes and 26 seconds, followed by Amanda Welburn-Smith in 98 minutes and 51 seconds and Debi Adams in 99 minutes exactly.

Nicola Wise achieved a 10-mile personal worst with her time of 99 minutes and 15 seconds but was still pleased to have finished the race.

Dean Wise crossed the line in 101 minutes and 25 seconds and Heather Riley also finished the course in 118 minutes.

Some members took on an altogether different challenge, taking on the SeeYorkRunYork Bloodaxe Challenge around the 1k cycle route in York Sports Village.

Competitors have to run as many laps as they can - or want to - in two hours.

Paul Simpson achieved an astonishing 24 laps in one hour and 59 seconds.

Charlotte Dennison completed 16 laps and was delighted to achieve a 5k personal best for the first five laps, whilst Alison Hyde ran 15 laps in one hour and 45 minutes.

Runners preferring to go off-road and wild chose the Eskdale Eureka Fell Race near Castleton, the latest in the Winter Series.

The muddy 9-mile route over the moors had nearly 1,500 feet of elevation.

Dave Smith had a fantastic run, with his time of one hour and 16 minutes earning him a prize for the second finisher in the M50 category.

Mike Wilson was next in one hour and 36 minutes, followed by Rich Johnson in one hour and 40 minutes and Paul Smith in one hour and 42 minutes.

Despite taking a tumble on the rocky terrain, Nick Cousins crossed the line in one hour and 51 minutes.

Lynn Humpleby finished in two hours exactly, closely followed by David Stephenson in two hours and one minute.

Mike Hetherton’s time of two hours and 21 minutes earned him a prize for second place in the M75 category.