Horwich Harriers had several members at the final offering in the South East Lancashire Cross Country calendar at Heaton Park.

Isla Newton starred in the under-11 girls’ category with another first-place finish and overall series winner with a dominant command of the event, scoring a perfect three points.

Louis Yates and the youngest of the running MacDonald family, Toby, took 11th and 23rd places respectively, while brother Matthew would place 10th in the U13 boys.

The U13 girls would secure third team on the day with Grace Freary in fifth (15mins 24secs), Amelia Shan eighth (16:33), Eve MacDonald closely following her team-mate in ninth (16:53) and Imogen Lane completing the line-up in 23rd (21:58).

Older brother to Louis, Harry Yates finished a great second place in the boys’ race.

Mother of clan MacDonald, Helen, proving it’s in all the genes, placed 11th overall and second lady 40 (46:22) on the day in what has been a great season for her after taking the silver medal for the series.

Mark Walsh, another athlete capping off a fine cross-country season, was 20th overall (44:19), second Vet55 and silver medallist for the series.

Harriers’ vets are running well with Doug Fleming finishing in 40th (49:37), third Vet 60 and securing third place in the series - being pipped to second by only a mere few points.

Not to be outdone, the MacDonald patriarch, Adam, in the senior men’s was 42nd (49:49) and ninth Vet 40.

In fell racing, Horwich pair Danny Hope and Lindsey Brindle, fresh from their double win at Mr Sparkles Dark Un, were at it again at the Bleasdale Circle.

A tough five-miler with more than 1,000 feet of ascent, the race is not for the faint-hearted with exposure to strong winds, sub-zero temperatures, frozen ground, snow, hail, ice and basically anything the British weather can throw at competitors common.

The route starts across farmland before a steep climb on rough grass and rock to the initial top. First up Paddy’s Pole was Hope and he continued in excellent form down Parlick all the way to the finish line, claiming back-to-back wins. Female course record holder Brindle was first lady, also securing back-to-back victories.

Despite the ongoing troubles at parkrun, it remains hugely popular for Harriers, and this week Robert Jackson opted for Alexandra Park, avoiding the treachery of what would be the very muddy fields at Peel Park. With another quality run, he finished 19th in 18:27 to once again claim first Vet55.

The Middleton’s tour of Britain parkruns remained local with Jason 108th and Janet 197th at Bolton, while Hayley Winder finished 111th at Heaton Park, Paul Murray was 99th at Hyndburn, Andrew Crickmore 81st at Wimpole Estate and Richard Pollit 31st at Conwy.

Michael Howe was 159th at Crosby, Sean McMyler 43rd at the very fast Stretford course and Gordon Stone 193rd at Worsley Woods.

The ever popular and challenging Haigh Hall Parkrun drew four Harriers with Sam Fairhurst back from a niggle to claim second place, Chris Charley placing 14th, Gillian Smith in 156th and Ed Swift finishing 208th.

Robert Seddon was an excellent third at Endcliffe, but parkrun run of weekend goes to Alastair Thornton, taking the runners-up spot at the University of Stirling Parkrun in a cracking time of 16:37.

Brett Hazelwood raced the Great North West half-marathon, in Blackpool, finishing 45th in an excellent time of 1:27:07, competing in unseasonal and relatively benign wind-free conditions.