The return from the lockdown period has certainly helped stimulate new interest in running, in addition to a number of other outdoor activities.

This was clearly evident at Peel on Friday evening when a record field of 126 took part in the opening round of the rescheduled Dave Phillips series, sponsored by Sweeney Todd men’s hairdressers.

Loosely described as a road race series, the original concept of the Western AC-promoted league began in the mid-1980s. About a quarter of a mile of the original town-based course still exists in the latest of four editions used for the series over the last 35 years.

But the current course is a real mix of terrain. It begins with a *-shaped loop of the northern end of Marine Parade, followed by the rough tarmac service road to the rear of the red-bricked boarding houses and bowling green, with a steady rise to the upper Headlands. A lap of the former nine-hole municipal golf course, descending back to the promenade via the Daisy Path and the Headlands to complete a single lap. It’s two laps for those tackling the longer four-mile option.

The youths do one or two out-and-back loops on the wide promenade footpath.

The under-nines was won by the impressive Poppy Clayton (Manx Harriers) by a narrow margin from leading boy Billy McMullan of the host club.

Harry Stennett of Northern AC won the over-nine boys by a clear margin from clubmate Tim Perry over two loops, while Abi Sinclair of Harriers won the girls’ by 42s from Aalin Atherton.

Ieuan Owen, 17, had a cracking run to win the one-lap event on the big course in a record time of 10min 20sec, bettering the standard previously held by his elder brother Rhys by a full 27 seconds.

Ryan Corrin of Manx Harriers was the meat in an Owen sandwich, with Ieuan’s other brother Gethin third. Peel’s own Corbyn Schade also showed good form, and so it continued with superteens all the way in the leading positions.

Madison McMullin pipped fellow Northern AC runner Lottie Stennett by a narrow margin of one second for the leading female slot in 11th place overall with a good time of 13.34. Two more of the strong Northern AC girls - Holly Salter and Catherine Perry - were next home, but it was close between the leading girls with less than 20 seconds covering the top four.

Steven Quayle of Manx Fell Runners led on the top Headlands path for the first time in the two-lapper, with the home town duo of Ben Scott and Dave Bignell hot on his heels.

Scott had edged into the lead on the fast Daisy Path descent, but Bignell kept glued to the more experienced all-rounder for most of the second lap before Scott edged clear in the closing stages to take the win in 23min 35sec.

At the line, opposite Empire Garage showroom, Bignell was 21s down, in turn 14s clear of the unattached Joel Smith.

Early pacesetter Quayle and Paul Atherton of the host club also ran well to go round in under 25 minutes. Geoff Rice was a tad over.

Dawn Atherton of Western registered an early win in the women’s race, leading throughout to finish 14th overall in a very decent 28.49.

Clubmate Helen Taylor was second all the way, while Dawn Yates did well to take third spot in 20th spot overall in 30.19.

- Round two is on Friday, July 10, with the final round on Tuesday, July 21.

Dave Phillips Running League, Peel (round one), Friday. Western AC, series sponsored by Sweeney Todd Men’s Hairdessers - results:

Two laps, long course (four miles): 1, Ben Scott (MFR) 23min 35sec; 2, Dave Bignell (WAC) 23.56; 3, Joel Smith (U/t) 24.10; 4, Steven Quayle (MFR) 24.34; 5, Paul Atherton (WAC) 24.57; 6, Geoff Rice (WAC) 25.04; 7, Matt Callister (NAC) 25.53; 8, Jayden Fayle (NAC) 26.16; 9, Peter Callin (WAC) 27.33; 10, Gary Kelly (MFR) 27.37; 11, Kevin Vondy (NAC) 28.15; 12, Phil Littlejohns (U/t) 28.28; 13, Steven Downwood (WAC) 28.46; 14, Dawn Atherton (WAC) 28.49; 15, Gary Christian (MFR) 29.33; 16, Nick Watterson (IoM Vets) 29.44; 17, Helen Taylor (WAC) 29.55; 18, Aaron Schade (WAC) 30.09; 19, Steve Callaghan (MFR) 30.15; 20, Dawn Yates (IoM Vets) 30.19; 21, Richard Allen (U/t) 30.21; 22, Alan Brew (NAC) 30.35; 23, Joanne Schade (WAC) 30.46; 24, Michael Loundes (MH) 30.51; 25, Paul Curphey (MH) 31.13; 26, Nigel Armstrong (MH) 31.14; 27, Jayne Farquhar (MH) 31.15; 28, Gareth Hinge (U/t) 31.19; 29, Kathy Lane (IoM Vets) 31.30; 30, Dale Farquhar (MH) 31.50; 31, Terry Bates (IoM Vets) 31.55; 32, Adam Cowin (MH) 32.02; 33, Dave Hodgeson (NAC) 32.05; 34, Peter Cooper (IoM Vets) 32.07; 35, Charlie Elliott (MFR) 32.08; 36, Mike Gellion (IoM Vets) 32.15; 37, Lawrence Dyer (NAC) 32.53; 38, Marie Jackson (MH) 36.14; 39, Paul Jackson (MH) 36.15; 40, Dave Callister (IoM Vets) 36.27; 41, Alanya Thorpe (U/t) 37.06; 42, Moira Hall (WAC) 38.07; 43, Rob Clynes (WAC) 38.30; 44, Katie Lawrence (WAC) 38.48; 45, Angie Robinson (U/t) 39.27; 46, Ian Callister (MH) 39.35; 47, Alan Pilling (IoM Vets) 41.00; 48, Karen Gadsby (WAC) 41.56; 49, Geoff Hall (WAC) 41.56; DNF Neil Callin.

One lap, long course (two miles): 1, Ieuan Owen (WAC) 10m 20s; 2, Ryan Corrin (MH) 11.11; 3, Gethin Owen (WAC) 11.29; 4, Corbyn Schade (WAC) 11.39; 5, Charlie Swales (NAC) 12.11; 6, Samuel Perry (NAC) 12.16; 7, Cian Howard (School) 12.34; 8, Charlie Teare (NAC) 12.56; 9, George Slater (NAC) 13.05; 10, Nigel Maddocks (MFR) 13.18; 11, Madison McMullin (NAC) 13.34; 12, Lottie Stennett (NAC) 13.35; 13, Reagan Corrin (MH) 13.37; 14, Holly Salter (NAC) 13.41; 15, Catherine Perry (NAC) 13.53; 16, Jake Crowe (NAC) 13.54; 17, Freddie Crowe (NAC) 13.55; 18, Caleb Schade (WAC) 14.07; 19, Abi Clayton (MH) 14.07; 20, Geoff Quayle (MFR) 14.12; 21, Jamie Pope (U/t) 14.40; 22, Mark Corrin (MH) 15.15; 23, Simon Sinclair (MH) 15.34; 24, Laura Carson (MH) 15.38; 25, Tonya Corrin (MH) 15.47; 26, Graham Delooze (U/t) 15.49; 27, Charlie Crook (WAC) 15.59; 28, Rebecca Kelly (MFR) 16.00; 29, Philip Jones (U/t) 16.03; 30, Aalin Cain (WAC) 16.26; 31, Les Brown (MH) 16.57; 32, Rory Turner (WAC) 17.15; 33, Terri Salmon (MFR) 17.27; 24, Mia Parslow (WAC) 17.32; 35, Sharon Cain (MH) 17.38; 36, Ralph Scott (School) 17.56; 37, Lynda Quayle (MFR) 18.25; 38, Colin Crooks (WAC) 18.29; 39, Rebecca Greatbatch (MH) 18.33; 40, Jo Hamilton (WAC) 18.33; 41, Eileen Clarke (U/t) 18.33; 42, Michelle Sherry (NAC) 18.47; 43, Diane Pope (U/t) 19.02; 44, Denise Gimbert (IoM Vets) 19.15; 45, Maura Kelly (NAC) 19.17; 46, Nicola Raven (MH) 19.25; 47, Mel Young (U/t) 19.32; 48, Oliver Andrew (Sch) 20.02; 49, Amanda Anserm (U/t) 20.03; 50, Denise Bridson (IoM Vets) 20.24; 51, Ruth Douthwaite (NAC) 20.43; 52, Mo Kelly (IoM Vets) 21.59; 53, Carolanne Hanley (NAC) 33.36.

Juniors - Under-nine boys (one lap): 1, Billy McMullan (WAC) 3.41; 2, Corrie Brogan (Sch) 3.57; 3, Orry Teare (NAC) 4.00; 4, Odin Bignell (WAC) 4.07; 5, Freddie Quaye (MH) 4.31. Girls (under-nine): 1, Poppy Clayton (MH) 3.40; 2, Darcy Killey (Sch) 4.02; 3, Bella Quaye (WAC) 4.07; 4, Molly McMullan (WAC) 4.08; 5, Elena Atherton (WAC) 4.38; 6, Amy Reynolds (U/t) 5.42.

Over-nine boys (two laps): 1, Harry Stennett (NAC) 6.34; 2, Tim Perry (NAC) 7.23; 3, Cameron Hounsell (U/t) 8.35; 4, Theo Quayle (MH) 8.38; 5, Sam Sharp (U/t) 8.56; 6, Louie Piggin (NAC) 9.34; 7, Troy Turner (WAC) 9.57. Girls (over-nine): 1, Abi Sinclair (MH) 7.34; 2, Aalin Atherton (WAC) 8.16; 3, Emma Sturgess (WAC) 8.36; 4, Evie Crook (WAC) 8.57; 5, Sophie Kaighin (MH) 9.11.

Ali Morris