HORWICH Harrier Chris Farrell celebrated his selection for the Great Britain mountain running team by winning the Walsh Two Lads fell race.

The event had runners from 35 clubs across the North West plus one from Northumberland, Josh Tighe, who chased Farrell home and held off Harrier Nick Leigh for second place.

The first woman home was Katie Johnson from Penny Lane Striders.

On Sunday, Leigh went on to beat the train from Bury to Rawtenstall on the fabulous East Lancashire Railway, winning this unique trail race organised by Mad Bull Events of Horwich.

It was a busy weekend as James Kevan, one of the club’s Irish internationals, won the Bolton Hill half marathon in style as he prepares for the prestigious Snowdon International in July.

Rudolf Maciejkowicz took the V65 prize and in the same race, Julie Williamson completed a hectic week, having ran the Bolton Hill Marathon the previous day and the Astley Park trail race on Wednesday.

Next up for her is the Lakeland 100 in July.

The Bolton area excels at organised races and the Edgworth 10k challenge, quite new on the scene, had more than 230 runners this year with Tom Grundy, Rob Jackson and David Crawford all winning their age categories – the first two battling it out for second place, with Grundy’s track speed edging him ahead.

Horwich youngster Lewis Wilkes won the Astley Park junior race with élan, while Matthew Flatters was a close second. Emma Bradley was first under-11 girl.

Lewis was then one of five Harriers representing Bolton in the Greater Manchester schools' championships.

Danny Lavin and Grundy both won bronze medals at Longford Park.

Horwich also had five juniors representing Chorley in the Lancashire schools' championships where Niall Maloney won gold in the long jump, exceeding the county standard with a final jump of 5.76m.

In the Inter-Counties race at Cowpe, Robert Seddon won his first Greater Manchester county vest, but the biggest turnout was at Astley Park where 26 junior Harriers took part.

At Bolton parkrun Matthew Smith, in third place, had his highest finish in his 76th run.

Simon Pymm was first at Oldham and Erica Booth first female at Preston.

At Queens Park junior parkrun it was a one-two-four for Horwich with Isabella Merritt, Alyssia Jackson and Imogen Andreassen all achieving personal bests.

Finally, club chairman Peter Ramsdale celebrated his 60th birthday by competing at Two Lads where, wearing number 60, he showed he still has ability.

Horwich RMI Harriers results: Edenfield fell race – 1st Phil Marsden 43:37, 4th Joe Mercer 45:57.

Astley Park Trail race (Chorley) – 3rd Julian Goudge 25:05, 8th Paul Muller 26:46, 90th David Barnes 35:14, 101st Gordon Stone 37:11, 113th Julie Williamson 38:47.

Walsh Two Lads fell race (Horwich) – 1st Chris Farrell 31:02, 3rd Nick Leigh 33:24, 10th Luke Massey 36:35, 16th Mark Walsh 37:01, 19th Dan Gilbert 38:22, 25th Gary Chadderton 39:39, 26th Michael Chadderton 39:43, 40th James Jordan 41:14, 41st Chris Essex Crosby 41:22, 56th Richard Marlton 42:52, 78th David Unsworth 45:49, 110th Peter Ramsdale 50:47, 136th Tony Varley 56:15.

Weets fell race (Barnoldswick) – 111th David Barnes 1:02:54.

Bolton Hill marathon – 73rd Julie Williamson 5:02:50.

Bolton Hill half marathon – 1st James Kevan 1:22:06, 27th Rudolf Maciejkowicz 2:01:36, 31st Tony Hesketh 2:04:14, 82nd Julie Williamson 2:30:59, 102nd Mark Dacre 2:40:35.

Race the Train (Bury to Rawtenstall) trail race – 1st Nick Leigh 1:13:31, 22nd Layne Mercer 1:23:22.

Edgworth 10k trail – 2nd Tom Grundy 40:12, 3rd Rob Jackson 40:47, 75th David Crawford 56:04.