Rachael Franklin and Ollie Lockley made Isle of Man athletics history when they became the first Manx runners to claim both titles at the Easter Festival of Running, supported by First Names Group.

Lockley won all three of his races - the Port Erin 10km, Peel Hill Race and Douglas 5km - and Franklin won the Peel Hill Race and the Douglas 5km. She was runner-up in the Port Erin 10km.

Franklin was also winner of the women’s overall title in 2014 but you have to go back to 1988 for the last time the men’s title was won by a Manx runner, when Graham Clarke took the overall title.

The festival also saw team honours go to the Isle of Man with Manx Harriers winning the men’s team title for the first time since 1995.

Gail Griffiths (Manx Harriers) was sixth overall in the festival and ran a 5km road personal best on Sunday morning at the age of 53.

A record number of 579 athletes took part in the festival which this year had a £5,000 prize fund, attracting teams from across Britain, with universities making up the majority of the competitors.

The opening event, on Good Friday evening, once again saw exceptional support from spectators, all round the picturesque and undulating circular route from Port Erin to Port St Mary and back, with a record number of 468 finishers.

Lockley, whose family home is in the south of the island, led from start to finish, and won by a comfortable distance, followed by 2017 Easter Festival champion Mike Christoforou with James Hoad (Cambridge Greyhounds) third.

Franklin was runner-up in the women’s race behind Beth Garland (Leeds), but in Saturday’s Peel Hill Race she was dominant, finishing strongly to beat the Leeds Doss duo of Bronwen Jenkinson and Beth Garland.

The Manx woman also won the Sunday morning 5km race on Douglas promenade, leading pretty much from start to finish to claim victory by a similar margin to take the overall women’s title.

Lockley had his toughest race in the 5km, and was pushed hard all the way, eventually pulling away in the final sprint to beat Philip Robertson (Lancaster) to the line, watched by a big crowd.

Phil Scard (Cambridge) returned to the festival this year a few months after undergoing major surgery for a brain tumour. He completed all three races - an absolute hero!

LEADING RESULTS

Men: Friday 10km (Port Erin, Good Friday): 1, Ollie Lockley (Manx Harriers); 2, Mike Christoforou (unattached); 3, James Hoad (Cambridge). Team: Manx Harriers.

Saturday (Peel Hill): 1, O. Lockley; 2, Andrew Ã?Donnghaile (Galway Harriers); 3, Alan Corlett (MH). Team: Manx Harriers.

Sunday (Douglas Prom 5km): 1, O. Lockley (MH); 2, Philip Robertson (Lancaster); 3, M. Christoforou (*/t). Team: Manx Harriers.

Women: (10km - Port Erin, Friday): 1, Beth Garland (Leeds); 2, Rachael Franklin (Manx Harriers); 3, Polly Keen (Cambridge); 4, Karen Shimmin (MH). Team: Manx Harriers.

Saturday (Peel Hill): 1, R. Franklin (MH); 2, Bronwen Jenkinson (Leeds); 3, B. Garland (Leeds). Team: Leeds Doss.

Sunday (Douglas Prom 5km): 1, R. Franklin (Manx Harriers); 2, B. Garland (Leeds); 3, Hannah Brown (Manchester Alehouse). Team: Leeds Doss.