DELIGHTED Lancashire selector Brian Craig said he was 'well pleased' following the county's success in the Inter Counties Half Marathon Championships at Ackworth near Wakefield.

The women's team took the silver medal behind hosts Yorkshire while the men won bronze.

East Lancashire trio Linda Clarkson, Brian Cole and Keith Johnson all finished in the top three for Lancashire to be counters for their teams.

The women suffered a pre-race blow when Blackburn Harriers' England International Pauline Powell was ruled out with a cold reducing the squad to five.

That lengthened the odds against them winning a medal. The experienced Philippa Walsh headed their effort with fifth place in 1:24:48, but it was Darwen Dasher Clarkson who sprang a surprise on her debut with eighth and second counter in 1:26:33.

Craig admitted "Linda was a bonus, I didn't honestly think she would be in the scorers. She excelled herself in my opinion."

The 36-year-old was a mere 15 seconds outside her personal best time, but as Craig pointed out, on a hilly course "she was probably running better than her PB."

The Dashers can also enjoy some of the reflected glory in Brian Cole's success as he was a member in the early days of the club.

The ultra-distance specialist joined forces with fellow Royal Marine Mark Croasdale to be the county's top guns in the men's Championship. Croasdale finished eighth in 1:08:35 with Cole 17th in 1:12:31.

Craig singled out Chorley Harrier Keith Johnson for special praise after he was Lancashire's third counter with 19th in 1:12:52.

"He impressed me and took a good scalp in beating Eddie Simpson (Lancashire's fourth finisher)."

Johnson himself added. "It was a nice surprise to be selected and run once again in a county vest.

"The course was quite tough and exhausting but I was pleased to gain a bronze medal."