HORWICH'S young athletes took centre stage with some good displays at the national road relays meeting in Birmingham.

In the under-13s' boys race Isaac Battye was joined by Ethan Isaacs and Jack Barrago, both making their debuts at national level, to record a creditable 42nd place.

The u13 girls also had a debutant in Lucy Dixon, who followed the fast first leg by Isabella Merritt with a swift second for eighth place, which the ever reliable Freya Whittle defended to give the team an impressive 10th place from 65 teams.

Alyssia Jackson, also at her first national, ran well as a solo B team entrant.

At u15s' level, sickness meant it was an incomplete girls’ team but new girl Georgia Heath, in her first national, was 14th out of 80 and Milly Lever, on the second leg, held on to that position.

The u15s boys entered a new age grade so were among the youngest in the field.

For the A team, Robert Seddon was 33rd on the first leg with Matthew Flatters gaining 12 places so that Isaac Simmonite held off some very fast runners for 27th place.

On the B team, Matthew Mair was back from injury, Thomas Massey returned to form and Nathan Lancaster helped gain 61st position out of 75 teams.

There were two runners in an incomplete C team – Toby Middleton and Lucas Milliken claiming 53rd place after two legs.

Middleton then took third place in the Withins junior fell race the next day but most of the youngsters will now move on to the Red Rose Cross Country League next week with coach Andy Townsend confident they will enjoy the unique atmosphere of cross country and do well.

The Birmingham display pleased Townsend who said: "Our current squad has some very talented juniors and we seem to raise our game at these events and show the talent we have at the club."

The seniors had a mixed bag with the relay team achieving 56th place out of 82 taking part at Sutton Park.

The club’s two Irish internationals, Ian Conroy and James Kevan, turned in the best times, while Phil Marsden forsook the fells to also do a strong run.

On the fells, the tough Langdale Horseshoe race got the better of Andy Ford who retired but he then turned out the next day at the boggy Withins race to follow Lindsey Brindle, record holder there in 2015, as she won the female vets prize. Dan Gilbert had a great run for 16th place as he compiles a fine set of results on the fells this season.

At Aintree in the 10k road race, Bernadette Unsworth won her first ever age-category first prize while husband David was second in his age category in a field of more than 650 runners.

Rob Jackson continues to collect the Northern Masters gold medals at V50, winning his latest at the Ashton under Lyne track event.

At Heaton parkrun, where 621 runners took part, Maria McMyler was first woman home in 28th place overall. In the same parkrun Lukas Siska was third overall.

Horwich RMI Harriers results: Langdale Horseshoe fell race – 41st Simon Pymm 2:43:00, 85th Mark Walsh 2:53:09.

Rochdale 10k road race – 56th Geoff Leech 46:34.

Alder Hey Grand Aintree 10k road race – 27th David Unsworth 42:53, 178th Bernadette Unsworth 53:01.

Withins Skyline fell race (Haworth) – 16th Dan Gilbert 48:45, 41st Lindsey Brindle 51:40, 42nd Andy Ford 51:52, 71st Gary Chadderton 54:37, 202nd David Barnes 1:04:34, 291st Lawrence Pinnell 1:14:10.

Northern Masters 10,000m track race (Ashton under Lyne) – 1st V50 – Rob Jackson 37:25.