BOLTON’S Blue Vests kicked off the cross country season at Leigh Sports Village with encouraging signs for the autumn Red Rose series to come.

Harvey Kenny led a 13-strong under-11 boys’ contingent with a fifth place of 80 finishers, while Lily Philbin carried her excellent fell form into the cross-country discipline for the girls, working her way through the congested 77-strong field to collect bronze.

Ben Pickford and Ruby Erzan-Essien were the first u13 counters, while Jack Willets and Madeline Erzan-Essien played the same roles for the u15s, though both squads were much reduced in numbers.

Nicki Cartridge continued her run of recent good showings, claiming seventh of the 133 women’s field over the 3.4 miles. Becca Kay was in a good position just behind but retired after rolling her ankle early into the second lap, leaving Katie Oakley to follow as first u20 counter.

Eight seconds behind Rachel Bailey dug in to be first u17 counter, reversing the finishing positions of last week’s Central Lancashire Grand Prix with Liv Kearney in what is likely to be yet another engaging chapter for the girls.

Katie McNulty finished ahead of fellow cross-country debutant Krystina Dewhurst to ensure the women lie seventh in the table.

For the men, Karl Darcy and Jonny Kay set off like rockets to lead the first lap, though both eventually settled into a suitable race pace and collected excellent third and fifth places respectively.

Just behind, John Knowles did what he is famous for – negative splits, romping through the field to finish seventh and second vet (first counter for RRXC), while u20 Matt Walker made it four Boltonians in the top 10.

Dom Gavin was perhaps the pick of the day with a surging 41mins 43secs for 36th of the 241 field to underline his recent improvement as Bolton took second position in the team competition, just four points behind Blackburn’s 77.

New Team manager Dean Johnson took a lesson from mentor Nick Howarth while, for the vets, Ken Fowler eventually raised a smile on collecting M60 gold after a huge three way burn up, with David Tomlinson matching the achievement in the M75 category.

As Lee Petch debuted on cross-country terrain, Ato Erzan-Essien completed a father-children dynamic.

Going one step further, Paul Philbin made it a whole family affair with wife Michelle, and Sam, Mollie and the aforementioned Lily also finishing.

A notable mention should be given to club president and M70, Ian Jakeway, who was overjoyed at completing the first lap.

BUH&AC results: U11 Boys – 5 Team 46 pts – Harvey Kenny 7:50 (5/80), Oisin Behan 8:13, Sam Hazelwood 8:22, Harry Aldred 8:23, Oliver McNulty 8:34, Herbie Kay 8:58, Sam Philbin 9:16, Matthew Wilkinson 9:25, Charlie Parker

9:27, Marcus Valentine 9:27, Joshua Bentley-Hughes 10:10, Alexander Stokes 10:42, Liam Allison 11:09; U11 Girls – 4 Team 42 pts – Lily Philbin 8:24 (3/77), Poppy Dunne 9:00, Isobel Hall 9:08, Hannah Swales 9:15, Idowu Taiwo 10:01, Chloe Bentley-Hughes 10:41; U13 Boys – 7 Team 77 pts – Ben Pickford 9:54 (12/46), Sam Aldred 10:16, Ben Dewhurst 13:05; U13 Girls – Ruby Erzan-Essien 10:58 (23/78), Millie Bracey 11:57; U15 Boys – Jack Willets 14:42 (12/40), Cameron Donnelly 15:03; U15 Girls – 4 Team 36 pts – Madeleine Erzan-Essien 15:51 (5/40), Molly Philbin 16:48, Francesca Fordham 16:50; U17 Girls – Rachel Bailey 24:14, Leah Rushworth 28:32, Ellie Forrest 30:36; 2 Team 28 pts; Senior women – 7 Team 76 pts – Nicola Cartridge 22:06 (7/133), Katie Oakley 24:06, Olivia Kearney 25:13, Mercedes Mercer 25:25, Katie McNulty 26:24, Michelle Philbin 28:10, Krystina Dewhurst 35:44; Senior men – 2 Team 104 pts –Karl Darcy 37:15 (3/241), Jonothan Kay 37:46, John Knowles 38:01, Matt Walker 38:57, Declan Toomey 40:30, Dominic Gavin 41:43, Andrew Cafferky 42:01, Chris Povey 42:04, Chris Pickford 45:10, Nick Howarth 46:23, Dean Johnson 47:09, Ken Fowler 47:57, Paul Philbin 53:51, Lee Petch 54:12, Ato Erzan-Essien 54:59, David Tomlinson 1:01:16.

In the Manchester Half Marathon, Phil Marsden (1:13:20) translated his fell form onto the road to finish 38th of the 5,802 finishers.

Simon Dally (1:18:38) was also notable for a top-100 position and fourth M45, while Gail Harrison had enrolled for diving practice – missing the two-hour marker by just four seconds.

Craig Kenny (1:28:36), Chris Topping (1:34:17), Dom Clarke (1:37:32) and Gail Harrison (2:00:04) also completed the race.

Elsewhere, Andrew and Karen Hood completed the Hellrunner – Hell Up North in Cheshire’s Delamere Forest, clocking 3:08:45 for the 13.1 miles and obstacles.