THERE was a strong Horwich presence amongst the 104 runners at the six-mile Henderson's End Fell Race.

Last Thursday's race was won by ex-Horwich junior Gary Priestley with Joe Mercer and Nick Leigh making the podium places.

Alastair Murray had a fine run to take the V40 honours in fifth place while Lindsey Brindle was outstanding in winning her second ladies' race in three days.

The race includes 1,000 feet of ascent from Rivington Barn to Winter Hill trig point via Rivington Pike and Two Lads.

Sandra Kelly was the third lady home and also first veteran lady while Suzanne Budgett, Tony Hesketh and John Parker also won their categories.

Results: 2 Joe Mercer 46:38; 3 Nick Leigh 49:20; 5 Alastair Murray (V40) 50:19; 12 Lindsey Brindle (F) 53:16; 17 Andy Ford 55:26; 19 Garry Chadderton (V50) 55:46; 27 Chris Maher (V45) 57:43; 32 Nick Kelly (V45) 59:14; 36 Doug Fleming (V55) 60:11; 47 Tony Hesketh (V65) 61:47; 50 Sandra Kelly (F45) 62:20; 51 M Kelly (V40) 62:31; 56 Suzanne Budgett (F50) 64:10; 68 Mark Swindell (V45) 67:39; 84 John Parker (V70) 72:45; 88 David Barnes (V55) 75:04; 95 Tony Varley (V65) 80:24; 100 Colin Waterworth (V55) 85:30; 101 Ed Swift (V65) 86:56.

Paul Massey has recently returned to scintillating form which last Wednesday took him to fourth place and second V45 at the Astley Park 4.4-mile trail race.

New member Anthony Hough placed 40th with Mark Seddon 65th and David Barnes 79th amongst the 105 finishers.

Results: 4 Paul Massey (V45) 25:26; 40 Anthony Hough 31:13; 65 Mark Seddon (V50) 34:10; 79 David Barnes (V55) 35:30.

Massey was bettered by his son Luke who finished third in the junior trail race just ahead of Lewis Wilkes with Thomas Massey, Cian Healy and Luke Brindle also making the top 10 and Nathan Lancaster and Robert Seddon not far behind to give Horwich seven in the first 13.

Brindle is now waiting to hear if she will gain her first England vest in next month's Snowden International Fell Race.

Luke and Thomas Massey, Cian Healy and Ella Pendlebury won their respective categories in this highly popular event which attracted 143 youngsters, 24 wearing the red and black.

Results: 3 Luke Massey (M16) 5:05; 4 Lewis Wilkes (M15) 5;12; 7 Thomas Massey (M13) 5:23; 8 Cian Healy (M11) 5:25; 9 Luke Brindle (M13) 5;26; 11 Nathan Lancaster (M13) 5:29; 13 Robert Seddon (M13) 5:31; 19 Kieran Kinealy (M13) 5:48; 20 Matthew Mair (M13) 5;49; 27 Lucas Millican (M13) 6:00; 31 Finlay Ried (M11) 6:06; 33 Ella Pendlebury (F11) 6:09; 54 Harriet Foley (F15) 6:37; 58 Freya Whittle (F11) 6:41; 65 Millie Bailey (F13) 6:47; 66 Lydia Johnson (F11) 6:48; 85 Callum Mosley (M11) 7:24; 86 Milly Lever (F13) 7:25; 89 Joshua Houghton (M11) 7:30; 91 Livia Sutcliffe (F13) 7:33; 106 Grace Pendlebury (F9) 7:49; 129 Skye Nicholson (F11) 8:35; 130 Lucy Seddon (F11) 8:38; Thomas Humphreys (M7) 9:13.

The previous evening Brindle was the first woman home and 10th place overall in the Paddy's Pole Fell Race in a time of 32:40 for the four-mile race with 1100 feet of ascent.

Suzanne Budget took the F50 honours in 40:49 and 58th overall whilst David Barnes was the sole Horwich man finishing 88th in 46:17.

Saturday's Bolton Hill Marathon saw Nick Kelly finish 28th in a time of 3:52:06 while his wife Sandra finished second lady and 42nd overall in 4:02:24 and Julie Williamson was 107th in 4:47:33.

Further afield Tony Hesketh finished 68th out of 259 in 1:46:39 at the Coniston Trail Half Marathon on Sunday.

Tonight sees the Two Lads Fell Race organised by Horwich RMI Harriers which takes place from the Bridge Inn on Church Street in Horwich.