Twins rise to

big challenge

Horwich RMI Harrier Mary White and her twin sister Margaret Huyton made a little piece of history at the Joss Naylor Lakeland Challenge.

They became only the fourth and fifth women over 50 ever to complete the gruelling race in under 14 hours.

The 48-mile Challenge involves 16,000 feet of climbing and takes in 31 peaks.

They started the challenge at 7am at Pooley Bridge at the top end of Ullswater and finished 13 hours and 22 minutes later at Greendale Bridge, Wasdale.

The attempt was blessed with a clear and warm day, ideal for fell running.

Today, three Harrier men are competing in the World Masters Fell International at Sauze D'Oulx near Piemonte in Italy. Steve Barlow (over-40), Steve Jackson (over-50) and Tony Hesketh (over-55) will all be taking on the challenging 8,460m course with 857m of climbing.

Next weekend sees the World Trophy Hill Running Championships, also being held in Italy. Horwich's 19-year-old Katie Ingram will be representing England in the Junior Women category having recently won the Lakeland trial race.

Paul Roby finished an excellent second in the Horwich RMI Harriers Jubilee Road Race Series behind Salford's Ken Chapman. Maria Lowe was the first woman home and there were category wins for Tony Hesketh (over-55) and Suzanne Budgett (over-40). Bolton's Candy Hamilton finished first lady under-18.

Results -- Jubilee Road Race Series: Men: 1. K Chapman (Salford) M 14; 2. P Roby M 19; 9. S McMyler 2nd M40 78; 14. A Murray M 106; 15. C Heys M 122; 16. T Hesketh 1st M55 133; 17. D Fleming M40 143; 28. N Edmundson 2nd MU18 247; =35. P Bland 3rd M55 320; 38. P Ramsdale M45 328; 39. B Allman M45 342; 47. P Beatty M45 411; 48. M Whitehead 2nd M60 425; 57. L Pinnell M 490. Finishers 64.

Men's Teams: 1. Horwich 170; 2. Salford 171.

Ladies: 1. M Lowe L 13; 3. S Budgett 1st L40 19; 4. G Higson 2nd L35 26; 6. K Smout L 42; 10. L Webb 2nd L40 73; 18. B Hesketh 3rd L45 123; 19. M Sunter L40 146. Finishers 21.

Ladies' Teams: 1. Horwich 46; 2. Chorley H 163.