FRESH from his recent fine international fell performance in Northern Ireland, Horwich RMI Harrier Alex McVey showed his class as he recorded a superb victory in The Chetham Trail Memorial Race.

The youngster left everyone for dead over the 10k multi terrain course, winning effortlessly by a huge margin of over seven minutes from Bolton's David Shaw and Tim Ellis.

First vet was Horwich's Kev Gaskell in fourth, with Albert Sunter third vet in sixth place.

James Logue smashed the Harrock Hill Race course record by a staggering margin of one minute, holding off clubmate Paul Muller, the previous record holder, who finished second and first vet.

The 5.3 mile (900ft) course was a real test, very muddy and slippery. Just behind James and Paul in third was Brendan Bolland with Chris Seddon in a terrific fourth and Tony Hesketh fifth (first V50). Horwich ran away with the men's team prize.

The RMI ladies took the ladies team award, led home by Audrey Foster having yet another great run to be 43rd (first L50). She was well supported by Brenda Hesketh (second L45), Cath Maleney (second L40), Linda Glover and Jane Houghton.

In the third race in The English Fell Championships the Horwich vets once more came out on top. The three mile (950ft) Saddleworth Race saw Graham Schofield vie with Steve Barlow for first team counter, Graham narrowly pipping Steve by two seconds. Just behind was Steve Jackson and with Kev Gaskell running strongly, these two made up the winning vets team.

Further back Paul Murray had a rare defeat but was still second V60. In the ladies race Suzanne Budgett ran well to be 26th out of 48 finishers.

Results

SADDLEWORTH Fell Race - Men: 36 G Schofield (V45) 21.45; 37 S Barlow (V40) 21.47; 39 S Jackson (V45) 22.03; 62 K Gaskell (V40) 23.01; 6 N Wrigley (V40) 23.10; 73 T Hesketh (V50) 23.24; 95 D Woodhead (V40) 24.07; 117 P Murray (2nd V60) 25.16; 151 A Sweatman (V50) 27.35; 164 B Allman (V45) 28.57; 166 K Latham (V45) 29.04; 191 M Kay 33.38. Finishers 194

Ladies: 26 S Budgett (L35) 28.16. Finishers 48

Chetham Trail Race - 1 A McVey (Horwich RMI) 32.35; 2 D Shaw (Bolton) 39.47; 3 T Ellis (Bolton) MU18 39.53; 6 A Sunter (3rd V40) 41.46; 7 D Hayes 42.20; 15 J Crook (2nd V55) 44.24; 19 S McVey (V40) 46.30. Finishers 48

Harrock Hill Race - 1 J Logue (Horwich RMI) 31.29; 2 P Muller (1st V45) 31.47; 3 B Bolland 33.16; 4 C Seddon 33.24; 5 T Hesketh (1st V50) 35.15; 21 G Finch (V40) 39.30; 24 P Ramsdale (V40) 40.03; 31 A Sweatman (V50) 41.33; 37 M Whitehead (V55) 43.31; 40 M Crook (V50) 46.02; 43 A Foster (1st L50) 47.00; 49 B Hesketh (2nd L45) 51.27; 51 C Maleney (2nd L40) 55.29; 53 L Glover (L) 61.42; 54 J Houghton (L) 61.42. Finishers 58.