HORWICH'S internationals were in action at the weekend with Ian Conroy setting a course record in the Run the Rock 11k race at Aughrim, County Wicklow in his home country of Ireland.

Conroy, running for his home club of Raheny Shamrock AC, also secured a personal best for the distance as he warmed up for the European and World mountain running championships in Slovenia and then Italy this summer, representing Ireland.

Chris Farrell is hoping to join Conroy at the European championships having finished fourth in the British mountain running trial race at Keswick last weekend.

The top three qualify automatically so Farrell has an anxious wait until today to find out if he gets the final slot.

Dan Gilbert took on the gruelling Welsh 1,000m Peaks race which means conquering the five peaks over 1,000 metres in Snowdonia, starting at sea level on Conwy Bay and finishing at the majestic Snowdon itself at 1,085m.

He had a great run, finishing 23rd of 100.

Also in Wales, on the coast, Milly Lever excelled in the 3k open-age race on the beach at Abersoch, finishing 13th of 330 runners and third female overall.

Meanwhile, in another nation of the Celts, on the stunning Isle of Jura, Michael Green had a fine run in the 17-mile fell race ascending over 7,700 feet to finish 85th of 256.

In England, Gordon Stone finished his second Long Distance Walking Association 100-mile event, this year on the North York Moors where the heat beat 150 of the 491 starters but he finished 10 hours faster than last year in Dorset.

Also in Yorkshire, at Kettlewell fell, Toby Middleton enhanced his fell-running reputation with 10th place in the under-14s' race.

In the Lakes, Andy Ford raced the Short Duddon fell race over 10 miles and 3,000 feet of ascent to take fourth place despite competing with a broken wrist. He then headed off to support another runner on the Bob Graham Round that evening.

Locally, the big race this week was Lostock AC’s Henderson’s End fell race over an extended and reportedly tougher route. Phil Marsden, fourth last year, led the field home to win with his Horwich team-mate Sam Wardle in second place.

Lindsey Brindle, having taken second female place at the A grade James' Thorn fell race last weekend, followed that up with first prize for women at Henderson’s End.

Only last year she was presenting the prizes at this race on a recovery path from serious injury.

Graham Schofield was first MV60.

In parkrun at the junior event in Queens Park Isabella Merritt achieved a 75.15-per-cent age grading in finishing second, with Alyssia Jackson not far behind in fifth with a new PB, while Isaac Simmonite took on one of the tougher parkruns at Cuerden Valley, finishing seventh out of 179 runners.

Mathew Smith and Luke Brindle were eighth and ninth, respectively, out of 448 at Bolton parkrun.

Horwich RMI results: Jura Fell race – 85th Michael Green 4:50:34.

James’ Thorn fell race (Glossop) – 13th Lindsey Brindle 37:36.

Kettlewell fell race (Wharfedale) – (u12s) 45th Theo Middleton 10:26; (u14s) 10th Toby Middleton 10:16; (senior) 81st Mark Birbeck 23:20, 82nd Jason Middleton 23:35.

Wharfedale trail half marathon – 257th David Barnes 2:21:17.

LDWA 100 mile challenge – 116th Gordon Stone 35:48:00.

Short Duddon fell race – 4th Andy Ford 1:54:30.

Welsh 1,000m Peaks (Snowdonia) – 23rd Dan Gilbert 5:11:38.

British Athletics Mountain running Championships (Keswick) – 4th Chris Farrell 52:36.

Abersoch 3k – 13th Milly Lever 16:27.

Morecambe 10k road race – 42nd David Unsworth 43:11; 109th Bernie Unsworth 50:48.