The South East Lancs Cross country League came to a close at the final league match at Boggart Hole Clough on Saturday; the venue has the reputation of mud, mud, and more mud, did not disappoint as the course was described by some of the runners who could go back over 30 years as the worst conditions ever. Leighs’ team were in good form starting with the U11 boys winning the team award; Daniel Senior was first in for the Harriers in the 1.8k race in 5th position 7:32 and was well supported by Jack Brookes 8th 7:43 and Zak Galvin 7:56 making up the winning team.
In the U11 Girls race over the same course Melissa Ince won in a time of 7:02 to confirm first place as overall champion of the series having no less than 3 first place positions and one 2nd. She was well supported by Elizabeth Sharrock 8th 7:46, Olivia Galvin 9th 7:49, Grace Craddock 10th and Cara Scofield 24th 9:13; the girls won second team place and the team are joint first over the series.
Joel Denton was the Harriers’ first finisher in the boys U13 race over 2.5 k finishing in 5th place, Josh White 11:47 and Owen Reason 8th 13:35; the boys finished in second team place overall. Josef Short has won 2nd overall in the race series.
Katie Morley had her best race of the season in the U13 girls race crossing the line in 3rd place in a time of 12:10 for the 2.5k course; Rebecca Pollitt was the next finisher in 6th place 12:44, Olivia Anderson 9th 13:30, Louise Appleton 10th 13:31 and Annabelle Sharrock 15th in 14:15 to win second team on the day, whilst over the series they are joint first team.
The U15 Boys team won their 3rd team race of the season winning the overall team championship; Kristian Wade lead the team racing round the 3k course in a time of 14:28 winning 2nd place, Joseph Wane finished in 4th place 15:18, Joseph Senior 7th 15:55, Nathan Myers 9th 16:55 and Lucas White 10th 17:24. Kristian Wade won 2nd overall individual award, whilst the team finished first in the series.
Leigh’s lone runner in the girls U15 race Emma McIntyre was 6th 18:49, whilst the team over the series have won 3 team races and are team champions with Keely Hodgkinson having 3 wins and takes U15 league champion award.
Olivia Stones takes the ladies U17 league champion award winning three races in the series. Courtney Donald won 3rd overall place in the league in the U20 ladies race series.
In the Senior men’s race over a testing 10k three lap course Dave Smith narrowly missed out on winning the league overall championship by 1 point over the four race series; finishing in 3rd place in a time of 37:52 his total for the series was 8 points with 7 points winning the championship.
In the ladies race over 7k Marjorie Leigh won her 4th O/65 ladies race clocking a time of 41:33, winning the overall championship title. Brenda Wane missed the start of the race giving everyone a start, but not deterred she worked her way through the field to finish in 41st place in 43:55 and 4th 0/50. In the vets 0/45 team race the team of Rachel Hodgkinson, Brenda Wane and Marjorie Leigh have won 3rd place overall.