A TEAM of eight Lostockers headed to Heaton Park to take on the challenge in the first race of this season’s South East Lancashire Cross Country League.

In unusually mild and dry conditions for cross country, the women completed two laps of the tough, undulating course to run a total of 4.5 miles, while the men’s race covered six miles over three laps.

Cathy Stratton was the first Lostock woman home with a time of 38mins 41secs, followed by Christine Smith (45:32) and Karen Taylor (45:52).

James Jackson came in first for the men’s team with a time of 42:38, followed by Mark Shuttleworth in 45:08.

After a close-fought battle for third place, Pete Noble came in next with a time of 49:01, soon followed by Mark Checkley (49:28) and Andy Laycock (50:56).

On Sunday, Lostock’s Rachel Hancock and Paul O’Brien completed in the Mast Blast 10k race in honour of Bolton Mountain Rescue.

The tough route took competitors all the way to the Winter Hill Summit, and took in nearly 1,500 feet of ascent.

Rachel Hancock put in a very strong time of 1:00:55 to finish second female overall and first in her age group, followed by Paul O’Brien placing fifth in his age group with another strong time of 1:05:15.

At Haigh Woodland parkrun Matt Withers was fourth in his age group and 24th finisher with a time of 23:01.

Not far behind was Gareth Pratt who finished fourth in his age group.