Horwich RMI Harrier Paul Muller had reason to celebrate this week, as he gained selection for the Lancashire County team to run in the British Half Marathon Championships and combined Inter-Counties Championships in Wilmslow next month.

He also won last Sunday's challenging Radcliffe 12-Mile Trail Race for the very first time, having finished second five times.

The Horwich men also won the team award at Radcliffe, with Rob Jackson a super third and Steve Cottom an excellent fourth.

On the same day, Adrian Selby had a great run to finish fourth in the 21st Annual Lostock Six-Mile Road Race. Next for Horwich was Andy Neary, running well to finish 22nd, followed by Chris Heys in 27th.

The Ladies had a good turnout with Sarah Gorman first to finish in 92nd (sixth Lady).

On the previous day, a group of Harriers made the long journey south for the ECCA National Cross-Country Championships held at Parliament Hill in London.

Jan Rasleigh had a superb run in the ladies 8K race, with ankle deep mud and plenty of testing climbs, finishing 47th.

Suzanne Budgett was next in 102nd, with Gaynor Higson in 146th and Audrey Foster in 161st all putting in terrific performances. Denise Wakefield finished 225th, despite a bad fall.

As a result of the great effort by all the Horwich ladies, the team finished a terrific 13th out of 43 teams to complete the gruelling course.

In the 12K mens race, super veteran Tony Hesketh was Horwich's first to finish in 337th out of 1257 finishers. Barry Allman battled all the way for 929th, with cross-country captain Keith Makin not far behind in 1,027th place.

Results: Radcliffe 12 Mile Trail Race: 1. P Muller V45 1.09.07; 3. R Jackson 1.12.37; 4. S Cottom 1.13.17; 26. T Mayren V40 1.24.12; 69. S McHugh V40 1.33.39; 158. M Holden L35 2.06.07. Finishers 170

Lostock 6: 1. N Jones (Tipton) 30.33; 4. A Selby 32.03; 22. A Neary 34.40; 27. C Heys 35.20; 48. A Gorman 37.23; 54. P Boardman; 78. P Bland V55 39.31; 82. D Coop V40 39.52; 92. S Gorman L 40.31; 104. N Guffogg L 41.20; 113. P Ramsdale V45 42.03; 116. L Leyland 3rd L40 42.13; 118. I Smith V50 42.18; 121. A Blinkhorn V50 42.24; 137. S Baines V40 43.52; 145. G Stone V45 44.06; 160. E Swift V55 44.42; 167. R Stafford V60 45.24; 190. L Townsend L 46.48; 228. M Claughan L 49.46. Finishers 334

Mens Teams (3): 1. Bolton 32; 2. Horwich 46.

Ladies (3): 1. Chorley H. 14; 3. Horwich 24.

National XC Championships: Ladies: 1. H Yelling (Windsor) 32.18; 47. J Rashleigh L40 37.24; 102. S Budgett L40 39.51; 146. G Higson L35 42.18; 161. A Foster L50 43.07; 225. D Wakefield L45 45.33. Finishers 398.

Men: 1. M Smith (Tipton) 41.54; 337. T Hesketh V50 51.26; 929. B Allman V45 1.01.57; 1027. K Makin V55 1.04.33. Finishers 1257.

Ladies Teams (4): 1. Chester-Le Street 48; 13. Horwich 455.