TOP Horwich performance this week goes to Isabella Merritt and Ella Pendlebury who, in the Greater Manchester County track and field event at Bury, took gold and silver in the final of the 1500m for under-15 girls.

Coach Andy Townsend commented that Izzy and Ella ran a perfect race to beat some big name clubs and athletes. Sprinter Sophie Walton was a double medallist at the GM County event, winning silver at u15 level for the 200m and bronze for the 100m.

In the u17 boys’ events, Isaac Parker gained a silver at 400m and Danny Lavin was a bronze medallist in the u20 men's 200m.

At the Lancashire County championships on the same day in Blackburn, Lucas Brennand was the sole flag carrier for Horwich and was sixth in a closely-contested high jump competition.

For the seniors, the fell-racing season is getting into full swing with the iconic Horseshoe races in the Lake District taking centre stage.

This week the Fairfield Horseshoe race was run in glorious sunshine and Tony Varley, a veteran of many fell races, took it on for the first time as a V70 and was second in his age category.

Dave Milliken was Horwich’s first finisher in 22nd place with Dan Gilbert close behind after being second Horwich finisher the previous week at Clough Head in the Lakes where it was Alastair Murray that led the club's team home in 70th place.

Gareth Booth headed for the road and was third at the Blacksticks 10k near Preston, maintaining some very decent early-season form.

At Haigh Hall, Nick Leigh was fourth and Michael Chadderton was ninth, while there were age-category wins for Leigh at V40 and for David Barnes at V60 and Lewis Wilkes was second u17 finisher.

Between Horwich and Chorley is the Yarrow River Country Park where Mad Bull Events stage their annual 10k Bluebell trail race.

Chris Essex-Crosby is enjoying his move from the Fylde shores to the West Pennine Moors and it showed in his 10th-place finish in the Bluebell race.

Parkrun featured prominently for the Harriers this week as it was Tony Hesketh’s 70th birthday parkrun at Heaton Park where he was rewarded with a big birthday cake, a second best age-graded result of 79.19 per cent and a big turnout from the junior squad that he and his wife Brenda coach.

His age-graded result was topped only by club-mate Steve Williams who got a great 80.19 per cent.

Nick Kelly (74.75 per cent) and Freya Whittle (74.24 per cent) had excellent runs too.

Altogether the Horwich runners produced four first-placed finishes in their respective age categories.

Aleks Clayden was one of those, achieving his first sub-22 minute 5k and then the following day finishing first at the Queens Park junior parkrun, where Marty Arnot-Smith was third.

Horwich RMI Harriers results: Clough Head fell race (Threlkeld) – 70th Alastair Murray 44:31, 74th Dan Gilbert 44:57, 115th Phil Marsden 47:41, 118th Mark Walsh 47:51, 132nd Andy Lloyd 49:13, 175th Gary Chadderton 52:07, 197th Mick Green 55:13;

Yarrow River Bluebell 10k trail race (Chorley) – 10th Chris Essex-Crosby 48:29, 231st Kristina Mountain 1:23:35;

Haigh Hall four-mile Trail Race – 4th Nick Leigh 23:59, 9th Michael Chadderton 25:09, 27th Lewis Wilkes 27:12, 67th Geoff Leech 30:06, 68th David Barnes 30:07, 101st Neil Wilkes 31:40, 120th Steve Thomasson 32:34, 136th Lawrence Pinnell 34:02, 176th Julie Williamson 37:19;

Wigan 10k trail race – 126th Michelle Mortimer 50:27;

Montane Trail Howgills 26-mile race – 48th Simon Vaughan 4:57:27;

Pendle Cloughs fell race (Downham) – 73rd David Barnes 3:53:03;

Blackpool 10k – 60th Geoff Leech 42:57;

Blacksticks Blue 10k road race (Preston) – 3rd Gareth Booth 36:25.