WITTON Park in Blackburn once again proved its status as one of the best cross country venues in the country with an excellent and tough test for all the athletes.

In the men’s senior race more than 700 runners toed the start line and were tasked with four loops of 1.81 miles – each loop comprised of two steep hills known locally as the “Saucer” which was the steepest climb and the “T-spoon".

The wintry conditions of mud, hail and rain gave the event some extra spice as Great Britain international Charlie Hulson (Sale Harriers Manchester) made his bid early.

He started to separate from an eight-man group at the end of lap three to finally cover the course at a rate of just under six minutes per mile, which on normal terrain would be at least 80 seconds per mile faster.

Horwich’s rising star Chris Farrell continues to shine and made a superb progression from 32nd position in last year’s race to 11th position this year.

Only three seconds separated him from 10th position and 24 seconds from sixth position. This provides a useful performance indicator as he starts to build for a GB vest in the European and World Mountain Championships this summer.

“It was a brutal course, but brilliant”, said Farrell after the race.

Salford Harriers took the men’s team honours with a performance that bodes well for their National Cross Country Championship campaign on February 27 at Donnington Park, Leicestershire.

Horwich RMI finished a creditable seventh out of 52 teams as Farrell was supported by some sterling runs from the club’s regular mud warriors including two V45 vets.

In the senior women’s race Debra Campbell flew the flag for Horwich and after a cautious start in the men’s under-17 race, Luke Massey moved through the field using his natural hill strength to secure a fine 32nd position out of 105 finishers.

He beat all his opposition from the Greater Manchester squad and his next race will be the UK Inter Counties Cross Country Championship in Birmingham on March 12.

The RMI juniors continue to turn out performances of great promise, including the u13s girls, the u13s boys who finished 10th of 25 clubs, and Lewis Wilkes the club’s sole u15s representative.

Elsewhere in the Lancaster half marathon Rudolf Maciejkowicz put in a performance that starts his 2016 season where the 2015 one ended, with Rudolf taking yet another V60 prize and finishing 31st out of 199 runners.

And in Parkrun, the highlight was at Bolton where, in his first ever parkrun RMI’s Michael Hallas ran home first of 251 runners.

Results

Northern Cross Country Championships, Blackburn – U13s girls: 77th, Ella Pendlebury, 15:46; 163rd, Olivia Baker, 17:35; 164th, Milly Lever, 17:36. U13s boys – 58th, Luke Brindle, 14:00; 70th, Lucas Milliken, 14:10; 74th, Matthew Mair, 14:12; 90th, Robert Seddon, 14:27; 103rd, Toby Middleton, 14:35. U15s boys: 109th, Lewis Wilkes, 17:22. U17s men: 32nd, Luke Massey, 21:31. Senior women: 70th, Debra Campbell, 37:03. Senior men: 11th, Chris Farrell, 45:09; 41st, Joe Mercer, 47:35; 61st, James Kevan, 48:52; 114th, Paul Massey, 51:14; 117th, David Jackson, 51:20; 183rd, Simon Pymm, 54:31; 302nd, David Milliken, 59:05.

Lancaster Flood Appeal Half Marathon: 31st, Rudolf Maciejkowicz, 01:31:45.