THE Horwich RMI Harriers team overcame injury concerns to qualify for the National Road Relays finals at the Northern Six Stage Relay in Blackpool.

Michael Cayton and Alastair Murray both picked up injuries in the week leading up to the event but Paul Massey and Jonathan Bruton stepped in to help the team to a fine display at Stanley Park.

The goal for the senior men's side was a top-25 finish out of 125 teams competing to secure qualification for the national finals in Birmingham.

Chris Farrell, fresh from his fine Great North Run display a week earlier, took on the leading northern athletes on the first leg of the 4.05-mile course before handing over to Gareth Booth who ran a good solid race.

Bruton and Massey then ran good legs as the team battled with local rivals Bolton.

Horwich's international triathlete, Lukas Siska, ran well despite a slight knee niggle and Nick Leigh gained another three positions to finish 16th and ensure qualification for the Nationals in two weeks' time.

Horwich results: Chris Farrel (third) 20mins 1sec; Gareth Booth (17th) 22:26; Jonathan Bruton (25th) 22:53; Paul Massey (25th) 22:48; Lukas Siska (19th); Nick Leigh (16th) 21:40.

The even also included the Northern Young Athletes Relays and Women's Four-stage Relay championships and Horwich had two under-13 boys' teams competing.

Although lacking a couple of the top runners the A team still managed a magnificent seventh place in the 30 teams from the north of England, with the B team also doing well in 23rd place.

Team A: Nathan Lancaster (12) 11.35; Harry Brierley (13) 12.00; Matthew Flatters (7) 11.30.

Team B: Finley Reid (33) 13.00; Toby Middleton (18) 13.04; Matthew Mair (23) 12.11.

Three of the club's top runners were missing from Northern Road Relays as James Kevan, Ian Conroy and Killian Mooney were on international duty representing Ireland at the World Mountain Running Championships at Betws-y-Coed on Saturday. The race was won by Uganda's Fre Musobo in 49mins.

Horwich results: 24 Ian Conroy 53:50; 64 Killian Mooney 57:48; 67 James Kevan 57:52.

While the World Championships were on, Danny Hope achieved probably the most illustrious victory of his career, winning the Scafell Pike Fell Race on Saturday.