YOUNG Bolton Harriers took part in the ‘Over The Bales’ fun event in Sale to give them a taste of the thrills and spills of cross-country running.

They all enjoyed the event over grass and straw bales and coach Gwylim Jones said: “We went to Sale Harriers’ ‘Over the Bales’ with a small squad of eight athletes.

“Everyone did well, Emily Wood was excellent and also her brother Matthew put in another good performance.

“A special mention also to Daniel Toole as it was his debut competition for Bolton Harriers.”

Results: Under-9 girls - Jasmine Greenhalgh, 40th, 9mins 6 secs; u9 boys - Matthew Wood, sixth, 5:22, Edward Jones, 15th, 5:48, Daniel Toole, 27th, 6:11; u11 girls - Emily Wood, seventh, 7:12; u11 boys - Ted Ratcliffe, 27th, 7:41, Tyler Kizikay, 39th, 10:05; u13 girls - Cerys Jones, 14th, 13:54.

Meanwhile, Harriers Endurance Group member Mark Garner pulled out the club vest again for the Wilmslow Half Marathon last weekend.

A course of country lanes closed to traffic and out towards Mobberley before winding back to Wilmslow, Garner saw it as perfect preparation for the Manchester Marathon on April 3.

He said: “Wilmslow Half is a great race, I really love the setting in the Cheshire countryside.

“It was a sunny day, no wind and not too hot so perfect race conditions.

“I started at a steady pace knowing the second half was undulating with a cheeky incline before the finish line.

“I was happy I managed to take six minutes off last year’s time in 1hr 46mins.”