A SMALL group of athletes from Horwich RMI travelled to Stalybridge to take part in the tough Millbrook Monster 10k and Junior Monster 4k trail races.

There were more than 220 runners in the senior race in which Andy Ford finished 14th in 42mins 13secs, an improvement by almost two minutes from last year.

A few runners went off course and were disqualified.

In the veteran category, Tony Hesketh won the over-65s category beating all the o60s runners to finish 44th in 49:19.

In the junior race some juniors also went off course but nevertheless Horwich still had prize-winners.

Ten-year-old Cian Healy continued his good form to finish second, only six seconds behind the winner.

Nathan Lancaster and Toby Middleton finished eighth and ninth, respectively, after going off course when lying fifth and sixth.

In the girls' race, Freya Whittle was third after a typically gutsy run, and Molly Clarkson ran well for sixth place with Ellie Green having a good race in eighth.

Horwich Junior Fell Championships' Burnley event, the Worthsthorne Moor Fell Race, produced two excellent races.

In the boys' race Nathan Lancaster won the mile-and-a-half race, beating all the u14s despite a sore ankle and was closely followed by Toby Middleton in third.

In the junior girls' race Lydia Johnson had her best run in Horwich colours and recorded her first ever win.

In the seven-mile senior race newcomer Aaron Hargreave led five Horwich runners home in 31st place in 49:27.

Next Horwich runner was in-form Tony Hesketh who won the o65s category in 52nd overall in a time of 52:15.

Prolific racer David Barnes was next in 79th in 57:01, Anna Keighley was 132nd in 69:48 and Colin Waterworth 139th in 72.06.