DARREN Kay led the way for Horwich when the FRA Championship season got underway at Pendle with the nine-mile Half Tour of Pendle Fell Race which included 2,250ft of climbing.

He finished ninth to help the team finish fourth. James Logue was 26th, and Horwich first veteran finisher. Dave Milliken was 30th – and second vet. Russsell Maddams was 33rd, James Kevan 34th and Colin Rigby made up the senior team as sixth counter in 56th.

Horwich’s over-40s team finished an excellent third. Alastair Murray and Karl Ward were followed by the club’s three over-50s, with Graham Schofield in 88th, Steve Jackson in 175th and Brent Brindle in 234th, which gave them sixth place in the over-50s race.

Mick Crook finished 13th over-60 and Ray Stafford was third over-70.

Suzanne Budget won the over-45s ladies race, with Geraldine Walkington winning the over-50s. Lindsey Brindle was third counter in the ladies race in 18th.

She just missed out on the over-50s title when she finished second in the age group category.

In the High Peak Marathon 40-mile race, which included 7,500ft of climbing, Albert Sunter and Ian Charters, running for The Rucksack Club, completed the tough mountain marathon for teams of four in 12:39:23 to finish 26th out of 50.

Caroline Scholes was third lady and Sarah Norgate sixth lady in the Alexandra Park 5k.

Two Horwich club records were set by Under-20s Charlotte Gaffney and Jessica Tomlinson in the season’s final Sportcity indoor meeting.

Results: U20: Charlotte Gaffney 60m 8.51 (club record), long jump 4.35m; Jess Tomlinson 300m 47.59 (club record), high jump 1.25m. U17: Laura Bannister high jump 1.40m; Ola Abidogun 60m 7.65. U15: Beth Miller 60m 8.45, 200m 28.05; Matthew Ault 1,000m 3.13.5. U13: Gabrielle Whittle 60m 8.89, 200m 29.52, high jump 1.15m; Noah Saunders 60m 9.00, 200m 32.51.