SENIORS from Bolton United Harriers joined juniors in action in Blackpool for the Northern Six/Four-Stage Road Relays and associated Three-Stage for junior age-groups and performed well.

For the seniors, 20-year-old Jonny Kay, so impressive on the track over distances ranging from 400m to 1500m this season, led off for the A Team over a longer distance 6.6km and finished 39th in 21mins 48secs.

Tony Valentine put in his customary performance on the second leg, dragging the club into the top 30 (21:20), before Tommy Harrison, whose improvement this season has been astounding, repeated the feat and put Bolton into the top 20. Marc Tillotson, still in comeback mode after an injury-strewn two years, held his own before M40 John Knowles, racing for the first time at this regional level since rejoining Bolton, smashed his 5K personal best on the way to a 22:11 split. Simon Dally repeated the effort with another unofficial 5K PB to bring the club home in a cumulative 2:12:53.

The final position of 19th secured a place at the nationals in a fortnight, which will be shared with Derby A, who took the honours in 2:01:24.

For the B team, Scott Crompton went off a little too quickly but, even suffering from a cold, he returned in 23:40 (73rd). The up-and-coming U20 athlete took over to propel the club to 61st, which was built upon by ‘Mr Consistent’ Chris Povey and Frazer Jardine, who competed despite a niggling hamstring problem to further rise to 57. Veteran Paul Turner extended his club-record six-stage relay appearances to 33 on the fifth leg, before Steve Houghton brought the team home in a cumulative 2:30:04 for 69th of 109 complete teams.

Results: 19th BUH&AC A 2:12:53 – Jonothan Kay (39th) 21:48; Anthony Valentine (28th) 21:20; Tommy Harrison (20th) 21:35; Marc Tillotson (22th) 23:14; John Knowles (20th) 22:11; Simon Dally (19th) 22:45

69th BUH&AC B 2:30:04 – Scott Crompton (73th) 23:40; Declan Toomey (61th) 23:18; Chris Povey (60th) 23:47; Frazer Jardine (57th) 23:09; Paul Turner (64th) 27:06; Steve Houghton (69th) 29:04.

The juniors repeated their exploits of the previous week’s county championships with sterling efforts.

For the U15s, the running order was changed with Ellie-Jo Ramsden leading off on the 3K course.

Alice Tonge took over and overtook seven before Molly Philbin saw the club home in a cumulative 39:29 for 17th of 30 competing teams.

The U17s ran an unchanged order – Katie Oakley battling at the start of the 3.3km to hand over to Mercedes Mercer. Rachel Bailey then ran strongly to bring the team home in 13th in a cumulative 47:12. Unfortunately, no female team competed for the seniors in the Four-Stage, but the future looks bright with the juniors’ performances.

Results: U15s: 17th BUH&AC 39:29 – Ellie-Jo Ramsden (28th) 13:19; Alice Tonge (21th) 12:57; Molly Philbin (17th) 13:13. U17s: 13th BUH&AC 47:12 – Katie Oakley (13th) 15:10; Mercedes Mercer (15th) 16:34; Rachel Bailey (13th) 15:28.

Previously, three teams of juniors travelled to Edge Hill University in Ormskirk to compete in the Greater Manchester Road Relays, only to be greeted by damp, windy conditions and ground more suited to trail running than road.

For the U17s, Oakley ran the first controlled leg in 11:15 before handing over the baton to Mercer, who battled around the undulating course in 12:14.

Bailey ran the last leg strongly in 11:31, closing the gap to third as the team finished fourth – just 25 seconds outside the bronze medals.

For the U15s, the club managed to enter two teams. Tonge blasted off for the A team with the tenth fastest leg of the day (11:40).

Ramsden then took over and ran a mature leg in 12:03 before Philbin ran strongly (11:57) as the team clocked in just 10 seconds off medalling in seventh.

Proving the club have strength in depth in this age group, the B team finished ninth.

Francesca Fordham ran around the course in 12:02, Leah Rushworth took on the baton and ran round in 12:36 before Ellie Forrest brought the team home in 13:21. Coach Dave Flitcroft said: “The girls were fantastic.

"They all share a fabulous team spirit and are fast.

"If they stay together, medals are sure to come.”

Bolton’s small but increasing presence on the triathlon scene grew at the South Manchester Triathlon from Wilmslow on Sunday.

Crompton, with the road relays still in his legs, debuted with a fine 60th position of the 412 field while Nick Howarth was just one place behind having edged in front on paper – due to the different start waves – but the standings came full circle on the jog and he finished 10 seconds behind.

Stewart Brierley was clearly clipped in for the undulating bike ride after a sterling swim and although only 10 minutes behind Howarth after the run element, with 166 places separating them.

Results: 60 Scott Crompton 1:26:42 (10:33 swim; 48:12; 24:56 run); 61 Nick Howarth 1:26:52 (10:43 swim; 46:43 cycle; 27:28 run); 227 Stewart Brierley 1:36:51 (10:25 swim; 50:23 cycle; 33:54 run)

Elsewhere, Shay Walker returned to racing after a five month lay-off with silver in the new Burnley Leisure 10K.

The mixed-surface trail race was dusted off in 37:10 for his best ever placing.

In the English HM in Warrington, Phil Marsden set a new personal best in 1:17:31 for 11th place of a 2,000-strong field.

It was a course of two halves – uphill for the first 6.05miles then downhill to complete the half-marathon distance.

Junior Amy Howatson also clocked a PB – a superb 1:30:07 for eighth female (143 overall). Hannah Edwards (2:01:54), Gail Harrison (2:04:33) and Deborah Flitcroft (2:12:14) also completed the course.

The youngest age-groups saw track and field competition as Spenborough & District AC celebrated their 50th anniversary by hosting an open meeting at their Cleckheaton base.

Bolton’s two U11 entrants continued their summer of silverware accumulation when Julia Winogrodzka collected bronze for the 75m in 11.2s and silvers in the long jump (4.20m) and shot put (6.97m). It was a PB of sorts, but only because of the new 2kg weight used rather than the previous 2.72kg (6 lbs) over the summer.

Joshua Bentley-Hughes’ events included the 75m (12.4s), a bronze in the 150m (25.4s) and a PB in the 600m (2:14.7).