AT the Norwich Union Fun in Athletics North West Regional Competition held at Robin Park, a team of Horwich RMI Harriers & ACs U11 girls competed against representative teams from across the region and finished the day as runners-up - to Lancashire!

The Horwich team were the only club team in the competition, the others being either county or subregional representative teams. However, the young Horwich team was not overawed by its peers, as they are the current Greater Manchester Sports Hall Champions 2001-02 having recently completed their indoor season.

Some of the highlights of the day included the magnificent 4 x one lap sprint relay win by Lucy Hindley, Katherine Eccles, Laurel Hounslea and Vicky Cashmore. In addition, Cashmore, Eccles, Rebecca Crompton and Sophie Little also won the other major relay competition, the Grand Prix Time Trial. In addition the duo of Hindley and Eccles finished second overall in the one plus one lap pairs race, and Sophie Little and Rebecca Crompton also finished in second place in the six lap paarlauf.

There were many excellent individual performances in the field events, most notably Rebecca Crompton's massive caber toss win and Rosie Brants, who won the vertical jump. With terrific support and good results from the rest of the team, including Katy Milner, Sophie Lyscicia, Katy Atherton, Charlotte Edmundson, Amy Thomas and Hannah Mernah, the Horwich Juniors finished the day in the runners up spot. The final top three result was Lancashire 368, Horwich RMI Harriers & AC 358 and Cheshire Multflex 320 points.

In addition to the girls team, two Horwich boys took part in the boys competition running for the Allcomers Team. The boys were David Parry and David Whalley, two of the club's Greater Manchester U11 Boys Relay Championship winning team.

The Harriers hosted the SE Lancs XC League Annual Awards and Presentation Evening at the Horwich RMI Sports and Social Club last weekend.

The event was a great success, as was the Red Rose Presentation held at the same venue last month.

Horwich RMI Harriers were privileged to have numerous prize winners, with notable winners being Mark Smith (1st Jnr), Paul Massey (1st V/60), Janet Rashleigh (1st L/40) and the Horwich Lady Vets teams (1st V/33 and 1st V/40).

Results: HORWICH RMI HARRIERS

South East Lancs Cross Country League winners:

Junior Men -- Mark Smith first overall.

Junior Ladies -- Christine Boardman second overall.

Senior Men -- Fourth team overall (4. Dave Townsend, 20. Matthew Tickle, 26. Mark Stringellow, 30. Andy Gorman).

Senior Ladies -- Second team overall (8. Gaynor Higson, 11. Nicola Guffogg, 14. Sarah Gorman).

Vet/40 Men -- Fifth team overall (18. Peter Ramsdale, 22. Steve Baines, 36. Barry Allman).

Vet/35 Ladies -- First team overall.

Vet/50 Men -- Second team overall (10. Alan Sweatman, 18. Alan Blinkhorn, 15. Keith Makin, 21. Peter Scott).

Vet/40 Ladies -- First team overall (1. Jan Rashleigh, 4. Julie Harold).

Vet/60 Men -- Paul Murray first overall.

Vet/45 Ladies -- 3 Audrey Foster, 16. Christine Sweatman.