BOLTON United Harriers saw more glory this weekend as Laura Lombard was crowned Red Rose Senior women’s Cross Country champion at the awards ceremony in Horwich, writes David Jones.

Her team mate Jonny Kay was the senior men’s runner-up.

Together they attended this prestigious event with their delighted coach Dave Shaw to collect the silverware.

Lombard’s first victory was at Leverhulme Park, a strong run seeing her finish more than a minute ahead of the next female. I

Kay won the senior men’s race convincingly making it a clean sweep for the Bolton club.

In November at Todmorden. Lombard had another clear victory, taking an early lead and continuing to pull away, while Kay finished in second.

The final battle, at Rossendale, saw Lombard finish in fine style with a sprint to complete a hat-trick of victories and take the senior women’s and vets titles.

Rachel Bailey was the runner-up in the under-20s category with Molly Philbin sixth overall.

At the Etihad meeting, Bolton United’s u15 girls – Hannah Swailes, Millie Bracey, Lily Philbin and Abby Steelelesh – finished a brilliant second in the relay, Philbin also picking up a silver medal for the six-lap event and bronze in standing long jump.

Five Bolton athletes made the trip to Sheffield to compete at this year’s Northern u13/u15 Indoor Athletics Championships.

Two of the youngest in the field, Summer Eden and Aliyah Martin, entered the 60m and 200m sprints. Both were making their debuts in a major championship but took it all in their stride, each progressing to the 200m semi-finals with Eden finishing third in 29.37 secs and Martin (30:06) fifth.

Both girls qualified for the 60m semi-finals and Martin came fourth with her fastest time of the day, a new pb of 9:11. Eden had won her heat and qualified for the final with second place in her semi.

In her final she finished fifth, an amazing performance against girls who were mostly a year older and her best time of the day, 8:80, ranks her 55th in the UK.

Idowu Taiwo was the only Bolton u15 athlete and she easily qualified for the semi-finals in the 60m and finished a fantastic sixth.

She now looks forward to competing in the England Athletics National Championship later this month.

Long jumper Isobel Hall competed in only her third long jump competition in 12 months, thanks to a broken foot last year.

She completed six rounds with five personal bests and a best of 4.21m, agonisingly missing out on a medal with fourth place.

Fellow u13 debutant Herbie Kay has also had an injury recently but a leap of 4.38 meant he took home a deserved bronze medal.

On Sarurday the Harriers’ specialist fell runners, Lee Petch and Andrew Gallagher, attacked nine miles and 1,281 feet of ascent over the Pennine Moors and under the M62 inthe Windy Hill race.

It was their first fell run of the year and they no doubt have lots more planned.

Conditions were cold and muddy but the Blue Vests reached the finish at Hollingworth Lake in more-than respectable times of 1 hr 29 mins and 1:31.