THE Mid-Lancs Cross Country League fixture in Liverpool incorporated the Cross Challenge attracting a large field of UK athletes.

Some Harriers entered both competitions in the one race with Chris Farrell second in the league fixture and 47th of 632 runners in the challenge competition.

Michael Cayton was eighth and 92nd in the two competitions, while Janet Rashleigh was 13th and 120th in the women’s competitions.

For the juniors this was another opportunity to mix with top runners.

Isabella Merritt was seventh and Ella Pendlebury 14th in the under-13 girls’ league race which translated into 25th and 43rd in the national competition.

In the u13 boys' race Matthew Mair, Cian Healy, Toby Middleton and Matthew Flatters were within 11 seconds of each other in the Cross Challenge.

At u15s' level Lewis Wilkes was fifth in the league race and 31st in the challenge race, in which Robert Seddon and Luke Brindle were 62nd and 78th.

Albert and Abigail Sunter took on the RAB Mountain Marathon in the Lake District and finished 71st of 198, seven minutes and 314 points behind the winners.

The race involves collecting control points in the shortest possible time, requiring navigation and tenacity in hard fell terrain.

Albert had finished 86th in the snowy Tour of Pendle last week with Josie Greenhalgh and Steve Jackson also beating the tough conditions there.

The Lee Mills fell relay also has a tough reputation and Harriers fell captain, Andy Ford, joined with Chorlton Runners friends as the Chorlton RMI team.

It worked well as he had a top-10 time for his leg and the team was 30th of 95 teams.

In the David Staff memorial race, Dan Gilbert and Tony Varley tackled the terrain around the fabled Darwen Tower.

Varley finished sixth from last and showed how to enjoy a good fell race.

This week at the Area Fell Grand Prix presentations Gary Chadderton was the club’s main winner with fifth overall and the M50 category winner, receiving his prizes from Great Britain international Ben Mounsey.

Horwich finished second behind the very strong Rossendale Harriers in the grand prix.

Gareth Booth took fourth place at the Wesham 10k road race and Paul Muller was 16th, each winning their age categories at M45 and M55.

Geoff Leech got a personal best in the 315 Lancaster 5k road race to add to PBs this year at half marathon and 10k.

At Bolton parkrun, Matthew Smith got his ‘50’ T-shirt before the age of 17, while at Haigh Woodland Paul Boardman was second overall and 10-year-old Emma Bradley was second female in a great time of 24:29.

At the Queens Park junior parkrun, Isabella Merritt was first home and Lucas Collings third.

At the Sale Harriers open series, both Niall Maloney and Sophie Walton got PBs at the 60m sprint and showed all-round ability with good long jumps. Thomas Grundy won his 600m race.

Horwich RMI Harriers results: Liverpool Cross Challenge – 47th Chris Farrell 30:46, 92nd Michael Cayton 31:38, 176th Jonathan Bruton 34:15, 400th Chris Essex-Crosby 41:46, 562nd Steve Jackson 47:59, 576th Alastair Murray 49:03.

Mid Lancs XC (Liverpool) – 266th Gordon Stone 47:59, 276th Lawrence Pinnell 49:03.

Wesham 10k road race – 4th Gareth Booth 33:25, 16th Paul Muller 36:32.

315 Lancaster 5k road race – 5th Geoff Leech 21:10.

David Staff Memorial fell race (Darwen) – 14th Dan Gilbert 32:05, 95th Tony Varley 51:10.