AFTER several weeks of gold performances this was a week in which Horwich runners had to settle for second places.

Only Simon Pymm continued to uphold the winning record, taking first when he competed in the Darren Holloway memorial fell race over the shorter course at Buttermere.

On the fell race scene Harrock Hill is an attractive race for Horwich runners and once again the club’s runners featured strongly with Gareth Booth pacing his race well to take second place.

Suzanne Budgett was also second woman home. Chris Farrell got home second on Snowdon, going uphill all the way.

At the White Bear trail race, organised by club member Michael Kay in support of Adlington Scouts, on a very undulating course over the Rivington and Anglezarke moors Neil Shelmerdine and Kelly Laughton came home joint second.

In the club’s championships Doug Fleming’s result at Harrock Hill gave him a clear lead in the fell championship but Nick Kelly, Dan Gilbert and Gary Chadderton will be sure to keep him on his toes for the rest of the season.

In the road championship Lawrence Pinnell is putting up a strong defence of his 2015 crown, challenged most closely by David Unsworth.

Suzanne Budgett and Erica Booth are leading the respective ladies championships for fell and road.

On the parkrun scene, Matthew Flatters was first in the age graded result having run a time of 18mins 25secs in his first run at Stretford. Matthew Mair was not far behind in 18:52, both running in the JM11-14 category.

At Haigh Woodland Isaac Battye, with a time of 20:25, was third overall and running as a JM10 was first in the overall age grading.

However, the best age-graded result was Gareth Booth’s as a VM40-44 at Preston where a time of 16:37 was only good enough for second place, his second second of the week.

Results

Bridestone fell race (Todmorden) – 16th Graham Schofield 41:42, 46th David Barnes 50:41.

Harrock Hill fell race (Parbold) – second Gareth Booth 34:45, fourth Andy Lloyd 35:44, sixth Paul Muller 36:23, 10th Andy Ford 37:46, 19th Dan Gilbert 38:54, 20th Gary Chadderton 39:13, 32nd Paul Boardman 41:16, 35th Doug Fleming 41:32, 42nd Richard Marlton 41:59, 43rd Nick Kelly 42:19, 44th Michael Kay 42:39, 61st Suzanne Budgett 44:06, 72nd Erica Booth 44:57, 135th Lawrence Pinnell 51:02, 161st Michele Sunter 55:57, 162nd Albert Sunter 55:18.

Snowdon Twilight Uphill Race – second Chris Farrell 43:45, fourth Michael Cayton 46:19.

Darren Holloway Memorial Buttermere Horseshoe fell race – 52nd Dan Gilbert 06:25:14.

Darren Holloway Memorial short course fell race – first Simon Pymm 02:33:39.

Lancaster 5k road race – 23rd Paul Muller 17:32.

White Bear Way 10-mile trail race (Adlington) – second Neil Shelmerdine 01:44:00, second Kelly Laughton 01:44:00, sixth Keith Lewthwaite 01:56:00, sixth Andrew Storey 01:56:00, ninth Kristina Mountain 02:07:00.

White Bear Way 21-mile trail race – seventh Suzanne Budgett 03:55:00, 10th Gordon Stone 04:31:00.

Colshaw Hall 10k road race (Over Peover) – 154th Geoff Leech 46:00.