HORWICH juniors once again shone at the North West Road Relays held at Edge Hill University on Sunday.

A huge turnout of juniors in age category’s from under-11s to u17s all performing outstandingly.

First off were the u11s and Horwich had four teams competing – for many of the runners it was their first time ever representing Horwich Harriers in a race. The girls' u11 A team managed fourth team in Greater Manchester.

U11 boy, Tom Finch, had his heel caught on the start and ended up running the whole race wearing only one shoe.

The u13s had one girls' team and two boys' teams running and the girls team also secured fourth in Greater Manchester with Charlotte Wilkinson running the sixth fastest time of the day in her age category.

The spirit of the club shone through in the u13 boys' team where, due to a couple of injuries, they were two runners short.

Up stepped Theo Middleton and Finlay Hall to make up the team when they had originally only planned to watch their older brothers run.

Once they had heard there was an incomplete team they stepped up and competed in the u13s' B team race meaning there was a complete team.

Next up was the u15s where there were two boys' teams and one girls' team running.

The boys' and girls' A team ran fantastic races, both earning silver medals for their counties.

Lucy Dixon also ran the ninth fastest time of the day for the u15 girls.

In the boys' u17s' race the sole Horwich team managed to earn themselves a silver medal with Toby Middleton running the third fastest time of the day.

Elsewhere, on the fells, the seniors competed in the penultimate English Championships race at Grisedale horseshoe with five Harriers making the trip. First runner home for Horwich in 38th place was Alistair Thornton, followed by Dan Gilbert in 55th out of a total field of 223 runners.

This week also saw the running of the club's annual downhill race – an event that starts at Winter Hill mast and finishes at the RMI club on Chorley New Road.

This year's race was won by Sam Wardle who followed it up on Sunday with a win at the St Helens Triathlon.

He was joined on the podium by club member Erica Booth, who was also first female home in St Helens.

Glyn Kay continued his impressive return to form with Second place at the Ribble Way Half Marathon, while two Harriers, Rob Jackson and Neil Holding, competed in the Salford 10k.

This year, it was a selection race for the English masters and Jackson was aiming to make it a fourth year running winning the over-50 prize.

But in a strong field, despite a time of sub-38 minutes, he narrowly missed out.