THE weekend was a time of international racing for many St. Helens Sutton runners, with senior captain Matt Crehan putting in a strong performance in his first ever Half Marathon, over in Enschede in Holland.

Leading from the gun, Crehan built a dominant lead after the first two miles, with the Sutton vest covering Dutch TV screens as the race was broadcast live across local networks. Crehan went through 10 miles in an impressive 52 minutes, but as he turned for the final three miles he was hit with a tough headwind and traditional Dutch cobblestone roads, which drained his legs of all remaining energy, causing him to lose time and position.

In the end he finished with 1:13 and third place.

Crehan said: "It was great fun; I loved the distance, and the crowds and music were fantastic.

"My first two miles were probably too fast, but a great learning curve and I hope to be back next year and go for the win."