BOLTON Harriers were well represented in the National Inter-County Championships at Nottingham.

The athletes, however, found the opposition too tough in a showpiece event that doubles as the trail for the Junior and Senior teams for the World Cross Country Championships next month.

English Schools 1500m Champion Tom Lancashire had a real chance of booking a place on the team, and the 17-year-old figured prominently early on in the Under-20 race, shown live on Sky TV.

Tom struggled in the second half and dropped back to 21st, although he still has two years left to make his mark in the age group.

Rachel Pounds also started well in the Under-13s but faded to 26th, although there was gold in the team event in this age group.

Hannah Warburton of Leigh Harriers was the fourth counter at this level as she finished in 40th place in a field of over 300, despite being just 11-years-old.

Leigh's Thomas Boardman just missed team silver in the U17s' event finishing in 71st and finishing fifth counter out of a field of 250 runners.

Adele Swanton, last out of the pen, found great difficulty trying to pull back the field of 300 runners in the U17 girls' race and had to settle for a disappointing 124th.

Double cross country league champion Gemma Farley also had a rough day crossing the line 202nd in the girls' U15 run when a top 30 spot would have been her target.

Other Bolton Harriers in action for Greater Manchester were Liz Holt who came 52nd in the Under-15s, Katie Smith (121st Under-17) and Liz Proctor (162nd Senior).

In the Senior mens' race, Matt Lockett was 118th for Cheshire and DJ Ricketts was 127th in the colours of Humberside.

Leigh Harriers shone at the South East Lancs Cross Country presentation at Horwich, collecting 12 individual and three team awards, which included Mike Goddard lifting the Whatmough Cup and Gemma Farley taking the Proudley Shield.

In the U15 age group Leigh took both male and female awards, Mike Goddard lifting the Whatmough Cup and Gemma Farley the Proudley Shield, followed by Rebecca Howarth in third individual place.

Emma Morris, Louise Boardman and Kellie Howarth lifted the team award, the Margaret Galvin Trophy.

Lauren Howarth and Hannah Warburton were second and third in the U13s' section while in the boys' 11-years-old Isaac McCann was sixth.

The Ladies U17s squad, who have dominated the local leagues for the past four years, were easy winners of the BA Lostock Trophy.

Adele Swanton was overall runner-up, Lizzie Heaton third, Amanda Fearnley fourth and Emma Touge seventh, adding this award to the North West Women's League title they won earlier in the season, and taking double honours for the second year in succession.

Sam Cooke was third in the U17s men's group along with team silver, which also went to Alex Urmston, Tom Boardman and Andy Edwards.

John Howarth was overall third in the senior men's section and Dave Helps third in the O50s. Marjorie Leigh also finished third in the O50 ladies' group.