Horwich RMI Harrier men's and ladies' teams qualified for next month's National Road Relay Championships in Birmingham, after they both gained top-20 placings in last Saturday's Northern Road Relay Championships.

The men's Six-Stage and the ladies' Four-Stage events were held at Blackpool, with the Horwich men finishing 16th out of 53 teams to complete the relay, and the ladies finishing 14th out of 40 teams.

Fastest over the men's 4.1-mile course was road captain Colin Rigby in a time of 20min 52secs, while junior Rachel Thompson was quickest for the ladies, and a terrific seventh fastest lady on leg three, over the 2.6-mile ladies' course, in a time of 16m 16s.

Both Adrian Selby and Paul Muller clocked identical times of 21m 48s for the A team, while Brendan Bolland ran a superb leg of 21m 49s for the men's B team.

Considering the event was a road event run on tarmac, on a generally flat course along the promenade with only one real incline, this was a great performance from fell specialist Brendan.

Northern Road Relay results:

Men Leg 1: A. 20 C Rigby 20.52 73 finishers; B. 36 B Bolland 21.49.

Men Leg 2: A. 16 A Selby 21.48 68 finishers; B. 30 R Haworth 22.29.

Men Leg 3: A. 16 P Roby 22.00 66 finishers; B. 36 A Murray 23.38.

Men Leg 4: A. 17 R Jackson 22.10 62 finishers; B. 37 S Jackson 23.34.

Men Leg 5: A. 17 D Kay 22.22 58 finishers; B. 38 A Hallahan 25.04.

Men Leg 6: A. 16 P Muller 21.48 53 finishers; B. 34 P Dewhurst 23.16.

Men Overall: A. 16 2.11.00; B 34. 2.19.50.

Ladies Leg 1: A. 27 S Jones 17.12 47 finishers; B. 35 J Haworth 18.36; C. 30 K Smout 17.29.

Ladies Leg 2: A. 19 J Rashleigh 16.30 47 finishers; B. 27 C McKenna 17.21; C. 33 L Webb 19.42.

Ladies Leg 3: A. 13 R Thompson 16.16 40 finishers; B. 24 A Foster 17.10; C. 29 N Guffogg 19.21.

Ladies Leg 4: A. 14 S Budgett 16.58 40 finishers; B. 24 D Wakefield 19.11; C. 33 S Cook 20.31.

Ladies Overall: A. 14 1.06.56; B. 24 1.12.18; C. 33 1.17.03.