AIRECENTRE Pacers are lucky to have two of the quickest FV65 runners in the area available, Margaret Britton and Debbie Bland.

And both of them flew the Pacers flag in Cumbria at the weekend, albeit at separate ends of the county.

Britton chose the flat, fast, Hoad Hill Harriers Xmas Pudding 10k – a circuit of Ulverston.

She ran a terrific race, finishing first in her age group and breaking the course record for a FV65 runner in 50:36, 123rd out of 264 finishers and nearly seven minutes ahead of her nearest rival, Gay Easthoe of Alnwick Harriers.

Nathan Gray of Border Harriers won the race in 32:26 and first female was Natalie McCarron (Cumberland AC) in 40:21.

Meanwhile, Bland continued her successful 2019 season at the Ravenstonedale 10k, set between Sedbergh and Kirby Stephen in the scenic Howgill Hills.

Hosted by Howgill Harriers, 220 runners took on this hilly, rural, two-lap course on country lanes in icy conditions.

Working her way through the pack, Bland stormed home in 51:52 as first FV65 and 102nd in the race.

Pete Harrison of Helm Hill Runners (Kendal) won the race in 34:18 and the first lady home was Rebecca Howard (Quakers RC) in 42:54.

Simon Molyneux, running only his second ever Parkrun, chose the forest trails of Dalby Forest near Pickering.

The 5k course, originating near the visitor centre, runs along the forest trails and culminates in a steep final few yards to the finish.

Molyneux finished in 12th overall in a time of 22:06 and second MV45-49 – an improvement of 34 seconds on his first Parkrun time recorded at Lister Park, Bradford.

Final preparations are being made by the club for hosting the ever popular Chevin Chase race held on Boxing Day, which attracts runners from all over the country including, on past occasions, the Brownlee brothers.