PHIL Marsden achieved his best result to date in Horwich colours with third place at Windy Hill.

In the stiff gales, he was kept on his toes for a lot of the race knowing clubmate Simon Pymm was not far behind in eighth place.

Meanwhile, Lewis Wilkes has been selected to run for Greater Manchester in the Inter Counties Cross Country championships in Loughborough on March 11.

And at Barrowford, near Nelson, he was one of the Harriers looking for fast times on the speedy flat 5k route in windy and freezing conditions.

His time of 17mins 43secs was good enough for 13th place in a race won in 16:12 by another junior, Joe Hudson of Keighley and Craven who last year was ranked 19th under-15 boy in Britain at the distance.

In the 2k race Isabella Merritt continued her fine form with second place and Freya Whittle and Emma Bradley were also in good winter form in sixth and seventh places respectively.

Horwich duly achieved promotion for 2017/18 to the top division of the Manchester Cross Country League at Stockport, with Nick Leigh showing his all-round ability in taking 16th place to lead the RMI contingent home.

Saturday was also the day for the annual Anglezarke Amble – a timed route for runners and walkers organised by the West Lancashire branch of the Long Distance Walkers' Association.

Several Horwich runners took part, well wrapped up against the wintry elements.

As ever, the mix of social camaraderie and physical challenge produced an enjoyable event.

At parkrun, Richard Howarth finished first again at Cuerden Valley and Lindsey Brindle was first female home at Bolton in 10th place overall.

Horwich RMI results: Manchester Area XC league (Stockport) – senior women – 160th Julie Williamson 51:14; senior men – 16th Nick Leigh 38:08, 48th Andy Lloyd 40:21, 144th Gary Chadderton 45:24, 170th Ian Hepburn 46:40, 171st Doug Fleming 46:45, 294th Lawrence Pinnell 56:46;

Mid Lancs XC League (Fleetwood) – u15 boys – 8th Robert Seddon 15:14;

Parbold Hill race (Ormskirk) – 55th Steven Foley 51:17;

Windy Hill fell race (Littleborough) – 3rd Phil Marsden 1:02:22, 8th Simon Pymm 1:07:13, 101st Alastair Cairns 1:25:11;

Fastrax 5k (Barrowford) – 13th Lewis Wilkes 17:43, 46th Tony Hesketh 22:42, 55th Jason Middleton 24:42;

Fastrax 2k (Barrowford) – 2nd Isabella Merritt 8:17, 6th Freya Whittle 8:57, 7th Emma Bradley 8:58.