HORWICH RMI Harriers is planning on hosting a race series it hopes will become the region's most popular athletics multi-race event.

The club has organised a five stage Countryside Tour this summer, which it believes could soon take over from the Tour of Tameside as the one to win.

Beginning on Tuesday, June 17 and culminating with the Adidas 5km Road Race around Horwich on Carnival Sunday, competitors from as far as Watford have already signed up to take part.

While the Tameside event - which takes place this year for the first time since 2000 - includes a half marathon, the Horwich tour is engineered to appeal to as many runners as possible.

Harriers spokesman Gareth Hughes said: "There is no reason why our event cannot be as big or bigger than the Tameside race - that is what we are hoping for eventually.

"We are very lucky in this part of the world to have such a variety of running terrains. In this tour we are incorporating fell, trail and road race.

"We also believe the events which we are offering are more manageable for most runners, as none of the races are longer than six miles. On top of that the scenery is much nicer and more varied in Rivington and Horwich."

The event almost came about by accident when Gareth and an RMI colleague were putting together the arrangements for the road race, as well as the annual Jubilee Race on the Wednesday and the Two Lads on Thursday.

Mr Hughes adds: "We realised that we were only a couple of races away from having a tour, and had a very good position to put something together which would really appeal."

"The first race is the six mile Science In Sport Lever Park Run on the slopes below Rivington Pike. The On The Run 4 Mile Horwich Jubilee Race is on the following day on roads near Rivington and Anglezarke reservoirs.

"Thursday sees the staging of the Walsh Two Lads Fell Race of approximately four miles from the edge of the West Pennine Moors while Friday is the four mile Holt's Brewery Cross-Country at Ridgmont Park."

The culmination comes on Sunday with the 5km road race which is three laps of Horwich town centre, which will come on the same day as the elite British Masters Athletic Federation 5km Road race Championships and the National Men's Circuit Series Race in cycling.

Runners may enter any of the tour races separately, apart from the cross-country race. For further information contact Mr Hughes on 01204 695528 or visit club website: www.horwichrmiharriers.co.uk