A 10-year-old Horwich runner has become the fastest in Britain for his age group over one mile – and has his sights set on new titles ahead of this season.

Cian Healy, of Hillside Avenue, achieved a time of 5mins 26secs at Rivington in April last year, recording similar times across the Horwich Jubilee Junior Series during the summer.

Cian runs for Horwich Harriers, having alerted people to his talent at the IronKids event in Bolton, which tests young runners over a one-kilometre distance.

As proud father Mark explained, his son’s determination is matched only by maturity displayed beyond his years.

“We’re really proud of Cian," he said. "He’s a modest lad, and doesn’t know how good he actually is, but you can’t knock the lad for determination.

“He’s really level-headed, whenever he wins he’s almost embarrassed to pick up the trophy!”

It might have to be a feeling that Cian gets used to, as he already holds the club record for the under-11s boys’ division in the 600m, 800m and 1200m.

He has already won the Rivington Pike Fell Race, and with Cian as talented on the track as he is on more difficult terrain, this season could be an extremely profitable one.

“It’s difficult to know what discipline he’s best at – fell running, track running – so he’s trying them all," said his dad.

“It was two years ago that he was fell champion, but at under-12s they don’t really recognise that, so he’s going to target that this season.

“Another of his targets will be the Greater Manchester Primary Schools title – he came third last year and wants to try to do better this year.”

Cian’s insatiable appetite for success is paralleled by an enviable energy, which sees him either football training, running, or playing competitive football six days a week.

All of this adds up to an extremely busy week for the St Mary’s School, Horwich, pupil – but as his dad points out, if you can’t do all this at the age of 10, when can you?

“He plays for two football teams, Horwich St Mary’s on Saturdays and Westhoughton on Sundays, so he’s really busy, but it’s better than him being inside playing on the Xbox,” he said.

“He plays football and loves playing it, so he doesn’t actually need to train that much, but he’s starting to go out on runs more now.

“His coaches have been great with him – Tony Hesketh at Horwich Harriers is fantastic, he lets him go and play football, but he puts him through his paces.

“He had a trial with Bolton Wanderers – he didn’t get taken up, and he’s determined to get another one and make it in this year.”

At some point, as so many talented young sportsmen do, Cian may have to choose between running and football, but that is a debate for the future.

With Bolton harbouring such a brilliant prospect, the athletics scene can be forgiven for secretly hoping he elects to continue lighting up hill running across the region.