THREE members of Horwich RMI Harriers produced impressive performances at the English Schools Athletics Association Cross Country Championships.

The annual event too place at Temple Newsam Park in Leeds and brought together the best athletes in each of the 46 counties in England to compete for the honour of being the best in the country.

In freezing conditions Horwich had three athletes running for Greater Manchester in the junior competitions.

Lucy Dixon and Eva Baldwin were third and sixth counters for the GM girls' team which finished 21st out of 44 counties, while in the boys' event Luca Milliken was the third counter for the GM team which finished 19th of 45 counties.

In Sunday's Wigan 5k road race James Jordan, showing fine early season form, took 10th place overall.

There was a great performance from the Bradley mother and daughter duo and this time it was the junior, Emma, who finished ahead of her mum, Janette.

But they both had splendid age-category results with Emma second out of 47 runners in the under-14 category and Janette sixth out of 53 in the V50 category.

Julie Williamson is not only achieving on the ultra scene now but is also showing a great turn of speed and was fourth out of 72 in the V45 category at Wigan – and that was after completing the 18k Cartmel trail race on Saturday.

Geoff Leech would have had a top-five V50 result at Wigan had he put the timing chip on his shoe!

In parkrun four Horwich juniors excelled. At Bolton Robert Seddon was second overall and Isabella Merritt was second female.

At Haigh Woodland, Lewis Wilkes was second overall and Imogen Andreassen was second female.

The best age-graded result of the weekend was Mary White’s magnificent 79.61per cent at Haigh Woodland – the top age-graded runner by more than five per cent.

Richard Howarth has been first home on nine occasions this year at Cuerden Valley, an impressive record.

On the coldest day of the winter 31 junior Horwich RMI Harriers and 26 seniors took part at the Bolton Arena track in a marathon challenge for Sport Relief, organised by Tony and Brenda Hesketh.

The seniors won the juniors v seniors competition in which the weather went from bright sun to blizzards and back again but always with the minus five degrees wind chill factor.

Club vice chairman Glynne Lever said: "Events like these show the great spirit in the club. To get almost 60 club members senior and junior out on a freezing cold Saturday afternoon to raise money for a great charity is testimony to that.

"It was a fantastic afternoon of running from everyone and most importantly everyone did it with a smile on their face.”

The club raised more than £500 for Sport Relief from the event.

Results: ESAA XC championships (Leeds) – junior girls – 152nd Lucy Dixon 12:52; 190th Eva Baldwin 13:04; junior boys – 133rd Lucas Milliken 15:47. Wigan 5k road race – 10th James Jordan 17:51; 90th Simon Vaughan 21:55; 96th Emma Bradley 22:04; 223rd Steve Thomasson 24:33; 281st Julie Williamson 25:30; 300th Amber Horrocks 25:45; 506th Janette Bradley 29:00. Cartmel Challenge Trail 18k race – 194th Julie Williamson 2:12:18. Cartmel Trail 10k race – 359th Nicola Kay 1:15:46; 474th Lesley Davidson 01:26:53.