HORWICH Harrier Ian Conroy further enhanced his outstanding international record for Ireland by finishing 50th out of more than 300 in the World Mountain Running Championships in Italy, helping Ireland to 14th place of 35 countries. Meanwhile Joe Mercer took on the classic Rydal Round fell race as part of the Ambleside Sports event and had a great run to finish third behind two of this generation's top fell runners, Simon Bailey of Mercia and Ambleside’s Ben Abdelnoor.

In the Area Fell Grand Prix, the series moved on to Turnslack where Horwich’s runners strengthened the club’s fourth place in the league table with Neil Holding leading the team home only two days after running in the Ambleside race.

Just over the fells in Rossendale, Phil Marsden continued to show his fell skills since joining Horwich by clocking up yet another race win this season with first place at Lee Mill.

Further north above the Ribble Valley, Graham Schofield was the first V60 runner by a margin of 10 minutes at Sabden fell race.

Horwich junior athletes were active this week in several events.

On the track at the Trafford Grand Prix, five Harriers got personal bests.

Robert Seddon won his heat, Matthew Flatters was third in his and Toby Middleton and Ella Pendlebury were taking on the 1500m for the first time this season.

Meanwhile, Luke Brindle was making a repeat visit to a track that was shared on the evening with top athletes from across the north of England.

Four days later, in the Mid Lancs Track and Field League meeting at Litherland, two Horwich girls ran as guests.

Ella Pendlebury turned out again for a personal best in the 300m and Isabella Merritt ran a fast 200m and achieved a PB in the 1500m.

Off the track there were more fine performances from the juniors.

Milly Lever and Emma Bradley were age-category winners at the multi-terrain Ras Aberdaron in north Wales.

Milly broke the 25-year-old record for the under-16s' race, taking 19 seconds off the previous best, while Emma was only 10 seconds off beating the course record for the u12s.

On the fells at Cowling Gala, Freya Whittle was fourth overall out of 37 and won the girls' prize at u12s.

In the Queens Park junior parkrun, Ben Topham was fourth and Imogen Andreassen, first girl home, equalled her PB for the course.

Luke Brindle turned out again at the Haigh Woodland parkrun and took 30 seconds off his previous PB in third place.

Seniors at parkrun included first places yet again for both Lukas Siska, at Bolton, and Richard Howarth, at Cuerden Valley. At Heaton, Maria Lowe was second woman to finish, as was Erica Booth at Preston.

Horwich RMI Harriers results: World Mountain Running Championships (Premana, Italy) – 50th Ian Conroy 01:03:47.

Lee Mill fell race (Bacup) – 1st Phil Marsden 49:41.

Harrock Hill fell race (Parbold) – 8th Andy Lloyd 35:15, 10th Andy Ford 36:15, 36th Steven Foley 40:42, 71st David Unsworth 44:09, 94th Mark Swindell 46:33, 110th David Barnes 48:09.

Rydal Round fell race (Ambleside) – 3rd Joe Mercer 1:24:03, 32nd Neil Holding 1:44:56, 112th Tony Varley 2:52:40.

Padiham Greenway 5k road race – 16th James Jordan 17:56.

Scorcher 5k road race (Salwick, Preston) – 2nd Paul Muller 18:17.

Turnslack fell race (Littleborough) – 9th Neil Holding 1:16:35, 50th Doug Fleming 1:28:55, 57th Tony Hesketh 1:30:40, 73rd Mark Swindell 1:35:18, 108th Lawrence Pinnell 1:55:44, 121st Ed Swift 2:48:26.

Sabden fell race (nr. Padiham) – 11th Graham Schofield 48:59.

James Herriot trail race (Castle Bolton) – 149th David Barnes 1:19:30.

Cowling Gala fell race (nr Keighley) – 26th Ian Collings 25:52, 38th Emma Collings 37:49.