CHRIS Farrell produced a stunning run to finish 26th at the Great Manchester Run.

He completed the 10k course in 31:12, just behind his season's best set at Trafford in March.

Michael Cayton was just over a minute further back in 33rd in a time of 32:29 with Rob Jackson 88th in 36:06, all remarkable finishing positions in a race that featured more than 25,000 runners.

Tom Carson, recovering from his recent injury, was 189th in 38:08 which included three lengthy stops to stretch his hamstring, while Layne Mercer was 1,015th in 43:33, David Lee 1,829th in 45:36, Elle Magee 12,061st in 59:01 and Rachel Collington 17,434th in 66:02.

Joe Mercer finished a fine second at the 4.4-mile Astley Park Trail Race in Chorley last Wednesday while Sean McMyler took the first V50 prize.

Results: 2 Joe Mercer 24:04, 12 Sean McMyler (V50) 27:52, 24 Paul Boardman (V50) 28:50.

The junior version of the race attracted even more participants than the senior race with 131 youngsters, and it was Horwich juniors who dominated the proceedings with five in the first 10 and 26 of the 131 young racers overall.

Lewis Wilkes was second overall and first u15 runner, quickly followed by Cian Healey, the first u11 two places ahead of Nathan Lancaster, who was the first u13, with Matthew Flatters and Luke Brindle not far behind, and Harrison Stokes was first u7.

Results: 2 Lewis Wilkes (u15) 5:20, 3 Cian Healey (u11) 5:26, 5 Nathan Lancaster (u13) 5:32, 6 Matthew Flatters (u11) 5:37, 8 Luke Brindle (u13), 12 Robert Seddon (u13) 5:46, 14 Kieran Kinealy (u13) 5:48, 20 Toby Middleton (u13) 5:58, 21 Matthew Mair (u13) 6:02, 24 Finlay Reid (u11) 6:05, 28 Ella Pendlebury (u11) 6:13, 34 Harriet Foley (u15) 6:25, 35 Freya Whittle (u11) 6:26, 36 Matthew Hill (u13) 6:28, 48 Amelia Bailey (u13) 6:40, 63 Lydia Johnson (u11) 7:26, 74 Harrison Stokes (u7) 7:46, 81 Joshua Houghton (u11) 7:55, 92 Theo Middleton (u9) 8:23, 93 Livia Sutcliffe (u13) 8:24, 97 Grace Pendlebury (u9) 8:30, 107 Chloe Fitzgerald (u9) 8:45, 118 Lucy Seddon (u11) 9:09, 119 Skye Nicholson (u11) 9;11, 127 Thomas Humphreys (u7) 9:37, 131 Leah Stokes (u7) 11:55.

In the Buttermere Sailbeck Fell Race, Dan Gilbert placed 50th in a time of 3:08:53.

Also in the Lake District, Andy Ford became the latest Horwich member of the illustrious Bob Graham club, completing the famous 42 peaks covering 72 miles with 27,000 feet of ascent inside the 24-hour time limit in a time of 23:24.

Tomorrow sees the annual club handicap, the Fielden Cup at 7pm along Georges Lane.

With registration open from 6.30pm at Ye Jolly Crofters, club members compete for the John Fielden Challenge Cup, a race which was first run in 1897. Guests are welcome to compete in this 2.2-mile handicap race although only Horwich members can win the coveted trophy.

The first Horwich Jubilee 5 Mile Road Race of the summer is nearly upon us with the race series commencing next Wednesday at 7.30pm from Rivington Village Club.