HORWICH'S Mike Cayton won the first race of the Central Lancs Grand Prix at Leverhulme Park with a new course record as he edged out Bolton's Jonothan Kay by just one second.

Michael Chadderton continues to improve and had a great finish in 16th place on a course that does not lend itself to fast times.

There were age-category top-three places for Neil Holding, Sean McMyler, Tony Hesketh and Maria McMyler, who was fourth woman and second in the F35 category.

Cayton was not the only winner for Horwich last weekend with several triumphs in the last of this season’s fixtures in the South East Lancs Cross Country League at Astley Park in Chorley.

Isaac Battye, at under-11, Ella Pendlebury (u15) and Lewis Wilkes (u17 men) all won on the day and secured the series individual titles.

A great performance by the u11 girls’ team of Emma Bradley, Pip Nuttall and Charlotte Wilkinson left them one point behind Chorley on the day but also agonisingly one point behind East Cheshire in the series.

Emma had the consolation of second place on the day and joint first in the series.

Other notable results were series third places at u15s for Isaac Simmonite and Milly Lever, both battling back from injuries.

For the seniors, Gareth Booth was sixth overall and first in the M45 category.

At the Mid Lancs Cross Country League fixture in Lancaster Neil Holding was 49th, warming up nicely for the grand prix race on Sunday.

The weekend also saw a great fell race finish for Phil Marsden in second place at the classic 48th Parbold Hill race.

Julie Williamson was the only other Horwich finisher, but after her fell debut at Windy Hill last week she has clearly got the fell running bug.

David Barnes got his fifth of seven finishes that are needed for a series result in the Kendal Winter League, this time at Longsleddale where he did his V60 category series prospects no harm with a third place out of 12 V60 men.

In parkrun, Robert Seddon, running as an u17, showed his all-round form by finishing second at Bolton – two places ahead of club colleague and seasoned fell runner Dan Gilbert.

Seddon recently gained his county vest at cross country for Greater Manchester having already gained county honours on the fells.

Fern O’Brien is another Harrier who has a liking for the tougher runs and this week took on the hilly parkrun course at Cuerden Valley, finishing as first u10 with Richard Howarth as the perennial first home.

Training partners Lukas Siska and Nick Leigh were second and third at Worsley Woods.

Horwich RMI Harriers results: 48th Parbold Hill fell race – 2nd Phil Marsden 42:27, 330th Julie Williamson 1:20:32.

Great North West half marathon (Blackpool) – 90th Lindsey Brindle 1:29:25, 251st Ian Hamer 1:41:43.

Mid Lancs cross country league (Lancaster) – 49th Neil Holding 39:27.

South East Lancs cross country league (Chorley) – 6th Gareth Booth 37:00, 48th Tony Hesketh 43:21, 67th David Barnes 47:24, 85th Lawrence Pinnell 50:56, 97th Peter Ramsdale 54:11.

Longsleddale fell race – 89th David Barnes 58:00.

Central Lancs 5k road race (Bolton) – 1st Michael Cayton 15:41, 16th Michael Chadderton 18:18, 45th Neil Holding 19:17, 51st Sean McMyler 19:39, 66th Maria McMyler 20:42, 94th Kimberley Chadderton 21:44, 131st Tony Hesketh 23:09, 159th Lawrence Pinnell 24:30, 201st Julie Williamson 26:24.