ELLESMERE Port Running Club’s women’s team put in their best performance of the season so far at the Borders League meeting at Tattenhall.

The team, comprising Alison Hughes (42 minutes and 32 seconds), Alison McDonald (45:47) and Madeline Bird (47:42) scored the best total in Division Two and have significantly closed the gap on the two front-runners.

With four more races to go, promotion is a serious prospect if the EPRC women can maintain their form.

EPRC’s men’s team was missing several key members and suffered a slight dip in form. However, they still managed to hold on to fourth place in Division One.

Chris Marshall (42:23) and Mark Dodd (43:25) were back in action and are now well on the road to recovery, after long-term injuries. Ian Cooper (34:46) continued to show his great form, securing ninth overall and second in V45 age group, and Paul Robertson (39:23) continues to move up the field as his recovery continues.

The other members of the EPRC team were Denis Duret (38:28), Michael Burns (39:04), Danny Legg (40:49), Matthew Whitfield (40:59), Dave Roberts (44:16) John Cole (45:29). The winner of the men’s race was Gwyn Owen from Eryri Harriers (32:39) with the ladies’ event being won by Jay Jennions (39:16) from Dee striders.

On Sunday, five EPRC runners travelled to Wrexham for the Helena Tipping 10k.

In temperatures just above zero, the runners set off on this fast course with just a slight incline between four and five miles.

While three EPRC runners finished in the top three in their respective age categories, the main plaudits went to the fit-again Mark Dodd and Chris Marshall.

Both runners have been unable to run for months due to major injures, but set themselves the tough target of 42 minutes.

They both did considerably better, with Mark completing the course in 39:53 and Chris hot on his heels with a time of 40:47.

The first runner home for the club was Stephen Laker (35.17), who not only managed a pb but also finished for the first time in the top 10 (eighth) of a race and third in the new age group of M35. Simon Jeffs finished just behind, also in third place in SM category, with a time of 35:28.

Completing the line-up was Alison McDonald, who secured third place in the W40 age group in 44:44.