PHIL Marsden began the year with victory in the first race of 11 in the series of the Kendal Winter League at Scout Scar.

Fellow Harrier Graham Schofield, who won the 2017 V60 series in this league, stayed focused and confirmed his favouritism this year by taking first place in the age category.

On the cross-country scene Michael Cayton, having got a personal best for the 10k on the road the previous week, had a fine second place, losing out by only four seconds to one of the Norman running dynasty, Andy of Altrincham AC, at Heaton Park in the Greater Manchester championships.

Team glory for the Harriers belonged to the under-13 girls at Heaton Park with Lucy Dixon, Eva Baldwin and Isabella Merritt compiling 22 points to win by five points from Leigh Harriers in a competitive age group.

The u15 boys’ team of Robert Seddon, Thomas Massey and Lucas Milliken also had a podium finish, taking third place behind Trafford and Salford.

In the Lancashire Cross Country Championships on the hilly course at Witton Park, the Harriers fielded five senior men, one short of a team in the senior competition.

Andy Lloyd was the lead Harrier, running a well-paced race for 49th place, and with Mark Walsh, Neil Holding and Chris Essex-Crosby, the team took fifth place in the vets' competition.

Elsewhere, the club’s vets turned in some smart performances.

In the Central Lancs half marathon, Bernie Unsworth was third ladies vet, while at the Wirral trail half marathon, organised by Bolton’s Time2Run events, David Crawford was third male vet.

Rob Jackson is a regular competitor in the Northern Masters fixtures and last weekend he was second overall and first V50 in the 10k trail race at Smithills.

In parkrun, there were two first women home for the Harriers – Debbie Campbell at St Helens and Lindsey Brindle at Bolton.

Suzanne Budgett was third woman at Cuerden Valley where Richard Howarth was yet again first home. Sean McMyler was third at Bolton.

Horwich RMI Harriers results: Bowstones fell race (Higher Poynton) – 27th Dan Gilbert 49:51.

New Year’s Day Awakener 5k trail race (Whitworth) – 5th James Jordan 20:58.

Greater Manchester Cross-Country Championships (Heaton Park) – 2nd Michael Cayton 35:34, 73rd Ian Collings 44:57.

Lancashire Cross-Country Championships (Witton Park, Blackburn) – 49th Andy Lloyd 37:04, 69th Mark Walsh 38:39, 76th Neil Holding 39:44, 79th Chris Essex-Crosby 40:07, 105th Steven Foley 42:06.

Scout Scar fell race (Kendal) – 1st Phil Marsden 27:26, 67th Graham Schofield 34:44, 140th David Barnes 38:50.

Central Lancs New year’s half marathon (Preston) – 66th David Unsworth 1:40:33, 115th Ian Hamer 1:46:03, 235th Bernadette Unsworth 1:59:14.

Wirral Way half marathon trail race – 99th Geoff Leech 1:46:46, 163rd David Crawford 1:57:43.