DENISE Wakefield, Audrey Foster and Shirley Cook enjoyed a double team success at a major cross-country championships.

The Horwich Harriers trio were the second-placed team overall at last Sunday's North of England Open Veterans' Cross-Country Championships in Sheffield.

They were also outright winners of the Northern Vets Championships, incorporated into the event.

There was individual glory too for Denise, who finished 18th to take the North of England bronze medal in the ladies' over-45s category and the silver in the Northern Vets.

Audrey was next to finish, in 25th, with Shirley in 40th, and Horwich's other runner, Sheila Fogg, in 51st.

The race completed a busy weekend for Audrey and Shirley, who had run for the Harriers a day earlier in the last South-east Lancs fixture of the winter at Middleton.

Horwich's women finished second in the senior ladies' competition at Middleton and first in both the over-35s and over-40s team categories.

It was enough to ensure that Horwich finished top in all three categories.

The club's highest finisher on the day was Jan Rashleigh, who was second overall and first in the ladies' over-40 category. She was followed in by Claire McKenna in ninth and Gaynor Higson in tenth (second in the ladies' over-35 section).

Suzanne Budgett won the ladies' 40-44 age section, Christine Sweatman was third in the 45-49 category and Audrey Foster was second in the ladies' over-50 group. Nigel Clementson returned to competition to lead the men's over-40 team to victory and the series title. He finished second in his age group, and 11th overall.

Rob Haworth was right on his heels in 12th (third in the over-40 section). Paul Murray won in the men's over-60 category, finishing 72nd overall.

Neil Wrigley was the highest finisher in the series, coming second in the 40-49 age group.

TEAM SUCCESS: Shirley Cook, Denise Wakefield and Audrey Foster

RESULTS: North of England Open Vets XC Championships: 18. D Wakefield (3rd L45, 2nd NVets) 22.51; 25. A Foster (7th L50) 23.37; 40. S Cook (12th L40) 26.26; 51. S Fogg (15th L50) 29.26.

SE Lancs XC League, Middleton:

U13 Boys: 1. N Gould (E.Cheshire) 12.21; 7. S Rashleigh 13.30.

U13 Girls: 1. H Warburton (Leigh) 12.39; 12. B Faulkner 14.37.

Ladies: 1. B Jenkins (Salford) 33.04; 2. J Rashleigh (1st L40) 34.20; 9. C McKenna 36.36; 10. G Higson (2nd L35) 36.47; 13. J Haworth (3rd L35) 37.56; 21. A Foster (L50) 41.20; 23. L Webb (3rd L40) 41.46; 24. S Budgett (L40) 41.57; 29. C Sweatman (3rd L45) 43.21; 45. S Cook (L40) 45.59.

Ladies' Teams (3): 1. E Cheshire 17; 2. Horwich 21.

L35 Teams (3): 1. Horwich 10; 2. E Cheshire 13.

L40 Teams (3): 1. Horwich 15; 2. Middleton 47.

Men: 1. T Abyu (Salford) 41.34; 11. N Clementson (2nd M40) 45.08; 12. R Haworth (3rd M40) 45.11; 17. N Wrigley (M40) 46.16; 32. R Green (M40) 47.44; 41. D Fleming (M40) 49.04; 54. D Mason 50.27; 69. J Ashton 53.25; 72. P Murray (1st M60) 54.00; 78. P Ramsdale (M45) 54.59; 83. M Crook (M55) 55.51; 86. B Allman (M45) 55.57; 102. A Sweatman (M50) 1.00.15; 114. G Stone (M45) 1.05.43.

Men's Teams (6): 1. Salford 75; 3. Horwich 136.

M40 Teams (3): 1. Horwich 9; 2. E Cheshire 26.

M50 Teams (3): 1. E Cheshire 7; 2. Horwich 35.

Overall Series: Ladies: 1. Horwich 101; 2. E Cheshire 109.

Men: 1. E Cheshire 406; 3. Horwich 565.

L40-L44: 1. S Budgett 9; Finishers 4.

L40-L44 Teams: 1. Horwich 52; 2. Middleton 199.

L44-L49: 1. A Ferguson (Burnden) 5; 3. C Sweatman 23. Finishers 5.

L50+: 1. J Needham (Rochdale) 7; 2. A Foster 12. Finishers 4.

Men: 1. P Foster (Leigh) 19; 7. J Ashton 100. Finishers 9.

Men's Teams: 1. E Cheshire 406; 3. Horwich 565.

M40-49: 1. G Matthews (E.Cheshire) 8; 2. N Wrigley 14; 4. R Haworth 17; 5. D Fleming 51; 15. P Ramsdale 141. Finishers 20.

M40-49 Teams: 1. Horwich 46; 2. E Cheshire 90.

M50-59: 1. R Smith (E.Cheshire) 12; 5. M Crook 60. Finishers 9.

M50-59 Teams: 1. E Cheshire 58; 2. Horwich 111.