HORWICH'S Julie Williamson sacrificed the chance to achieve her aim of finishing the Lakeland 100-mile ultra marathon to come to the aid of an injured competitor.

Attempting the gruelling event for the third time, Williamson was on target to finish but, at 85 miles, she encountered an injured runner on her way to down into Ambleside.

She helped the runner down but was then timed out of the race – a great act of kindness especially in the context that Williamson knew she was running well and could look forward to achieving her long-held target at last.

Fell races are abundant at this time of the year and at Turnslack the race encountered needle hailstones shortly after the start but three Harriers saw it through with success.

Phil Marsden was the race winner with Danny Hope in third, while Tony Hesketh settled for second V70 place.

At Harrock Hill earlier in the week, he had won the V70 prize.

Hesketh is attempting this year to do 70 races in his 70th year so he is putting the mileage in to great effect.

Earlier in the week, at Lee Mill near Bacup, it was a well-deserved first fell race win for Dan Gilbert – another popular club member who has a habit of finishing just off the top places in many fell races but achieved his aim this time around.

Gareth Booth continued his fine run of results with third place and first V45 at the Beetham Sports fell race.

Rob Jackson continues to collect the medals in the Northern Masters championships, this week the 5,000m track silver medal for V50s behind Paul Freary, who is regularly the first home at Bolton parkrun.

Jackson was looking at a sub 18-minute time but eased off the pace in the last few laps.

Four of the Harriers’ junior athletes took part in the very competitive Trafford AC Grand Prix meeting in Stretford. Eva Baldwin, Georgia Heath, Toby Middleton and Robert Seddon all came away with personal bests for their performances in the 1500m events.

Freya Whittle was the lone junior Harrier in fell races this week with seventh place in the under-14s' race at Cowling Gala.

Toby Middleton also had a fine second place at Bolton parkrun with another personal best and a 76 per cent age grading.

Nick Leigh was second at Haigh Woodland in 16mins 27secs for an 83 per cent age grading, while Fern O’Brien was a first-timer at Worsley Woods and achieved a 72 per cent age grading.

Mary Arnot-Smith was second at Queens Park junior parkrun.

Harriers bid farewell to a popular member this week as Lukas Siska, international triathlete, left the UK for the USA.

Siska has forged a great coaching career while in Horwich, including coaching Sam Wardle to his British Sprint triathlon title.

So his leaving do at the Ale House saw many fond farewells and he said he was overwhelmed with how many great friends he has made during his time in Horwich.

Horwich RMI Harriers results: Lee Mill fell race (Rossendale) – 1st Dan Gilbert 50:55, 8th Simon Pymm 53:53, 26th Andy Ford 59:28;

Harrock Hill fell race (near Parbold) – 89th Tony Hesketh 45:43, 95th David Barnes 46:07, 151st Tony Varley 52:57;

Northern Masters 5,000m (Ashton under Lyne) – 5th Rob Jackson 18:09;

Lancaster 3-1-5 5k road race – 5th Andrew Crickmore 17:19;

Beetham Sports fell race – 3rd Gareth Booth 37:50;

Turnslack fell race (near Littleborough) – 1st Phil Marsden 1:01:24, 3rd Danny Hope 1:05:43, 51st Tony Hesketh 1:34:44;

Lingmell Dash fell race (Wasdale) – 36th David Barnes 1:23:07.