LAST Sunday's Burnden Road Runners Bolton 10k Road Race was a tough, challenging course, but suited Horwich RMI's Rob Jackson down to the ground.

Using his strength on the hilly course he powered his way to a superb victory. It was the first time this course had been used, starting at the Smithills Sports Centre and taking in two tough circuits, with one and a quarter miles up Smithills Dene Road twice.

With the hard nature of the race, times were understandable down on runner's normal 10K bests.

Rob made a decisive move to break away in the second circuit climb, and had a clear 15 second margin of victory as he used the line for a well deserved win. It was indeed Rob's first race since his terrific performance at the Manchester Marathon four weeks ago.

Keith Makin ran for the second time in two days, having represented his club in the previous day's SE Lancs XC fixture at Rochdale, as did Linda Leyland and Christine Sweetman.

All three acquitted themselves admirably, with Linda finishing third L40. Delroy Chambers had a particularly good run to finish 24th overall.

The SE Lancs XC fixture at Rochdale last Saturday again saw Horwich RMI Harriers out in force. Conditions at Springfield Park, with no wind but plenty of mud, were perfect for a testing XC.

Horwich RMI ladies had a great start to the league, winning the Vet 35 and Vet 40 teams. Jan Rashleigh had a brilliant run to finish second and first vet overall, only 19 seconds behind A Powell (Leigh).

Horwich men were again out in numbers, being led home by Dave Townsend running steadily after his Bolton Arena Dry Tri victory the day before, and the day before running a leg in the FRA relay team.

Junior Mark Smith had an excellent run, being 14th overall, first junior and Horwich RMI's second counter. Paul Murray recorded a super first place in the Vet 60 category, being 79th overall. The club's elder statesman Alan Robinson again showed great determination after a recent lay off, to finish first Vet 70.

Horwich RMI Harrier's Carolyn Wright recorded a fine win in the Bolton Blast in the Vet 40 category, and was third lady overall. The event involved a 600m swim followed by a 10k run.

The early morning weather was good for the run section, with the course not too wet underfoot, wending its way round Wayoh Reservoir on road and trail.

Tony Hesketh and Jim Leyland made up a team that finished 16th, second team and first Vet team. Tony currently recovering from injury used the swim as a good workout, and Jim recorded the 13th fastest run of the day. John Foulds recorded an identical 57.18 time as Tony and Jim, and was an excellent second Vet 40.

Last weekend saw 25 competitors take up a unique day triathlon challenge at the Bolton Arena.

Horwich RMI Harrier Dave Townsend came out on top with a winning margin of over one minute, after completing a 2,000m run on a Concept 2 running machine, 12k cycle, and a 5k run on a treadmill.

Dave's time of 46 min 28 secs was an impressive display, and his nearest challenger recorded 47 min 51 secs.

Three Horwich RMI Harriers recently travelled to Tywyn in Gwynedd, on the mid-Wales coast, to Race the Train. The 15 mile route was confined to the roads this year due to the foot and mouth restrictions, but still involved a scenic run which meandered through some lovely countryside.

First Harrier back, easily beating the train was super vet Tony Hesketh ,first Vet 50 in 32nd place. Next was Peter Houghton (74th) who also beat the train. In 215th Steve Baines had a good run.

The race involved 480 runners, 140 of whom beat the train. The event also involved a 10k road race won by Gregory Wilson (Telford) in 37.47. RMI Harrier Brenda Hesketh finished in 54.09, and Cath Maloney 57.26. BURNDEN 10k

1. R Jackson (Horwich RMI) 35.56; 2. P Speake (Bildeston Runners) 36.11; 3. E Gamble (Stockport H) 36.26; 24. D Chambers (Horwich RMI) 40.23; 57. K Makin V50 44.43; 59. C Waterworth V45 44.54; 80. L Leyland 3rd L40 47.19; 88. B Allman V45 48.25; 102. F Wood V55 50.46; 111. B Hesketh 2nd L45 52.01; 130. C Maloney L35 54.326; 134. C Sweatman L45 55.32. 176 finishers.

Teams -- Men (three to count) 1. Southport Waterloo AC 41; 2. Burnden 42; 3. Stockport Harriers & AC 61; 5. Horwich RMI Harriers 73. Ladies 1. Wigan Phoenix 17; 2. Horwich RMI harriers 25; 3. Radcliffe AC 44.

BOLTON BLAST (600m swim, 10k run)

1. C Hill (Westmoreland Tri) 46.37; 16. Hesketh/Leyland (Horwich RMI) 57.18 (11.30, 45.48); 17. John Foulds 2nd Vet 40 57.18 (12.16, 45.02); 24. Carolyn Wright 1st L40 1.01.45 (12.35, 49.10). 58 finishers.

SEL CROSS COUNTRY ROCHDALE

Senior Men -- 1. J Brown (Salford H) 30.35; 2. A Jones (East Cheshire H) 31.41; 3. J Jackson (Salford H) 31.42; 7. D Townsend (Horwich RMI) 33.42; 14. M Smith 1st JM 34.46; 42. A Hallahan 3rd JM 36.46; 48. M Tickle 37.37; 59. K Tyrer V40 38.25; 75. M Stringfellow 40.07; 79. P Murray 1st V60 40.23; 81. A Sweatman V50 40.39; 85. I Smith V45 40.56; 88. P Bland V50 41.14; 89. S Westhead V40 41.21; 92. K Makin V50 41.30; 96. S Baines V40 42.02; 97. J Leyland V50 42.07; 98. P Ramsdale V40 42.14; 106. A Blinkhorn V50 43.13; 110. P Scott V55 43.23; 153. A Robinson 1st V70 57.08. 153 finishers.

Teams -- (six to count) 1. Salford Harriers 52; 2. East Cheshire Harriers 56; 3. Middleton Harriers 161; 6. Horwich RMI Harriers 226.

Ladies -- 1. A Powell (Leigh Harriers) 21.37; 2. J Rashleigh 1st L40 (Horwich RMI) 21.56; 3. C Robinson (Belle Vue Racers) 22.09; 10. S Jones 1st L35 (Horwich RMI) 24.17; 17. G Higson 25.15; 23. L Leyland L40 26.18; 24. A Foster 1st L50 26.23; 27. L Smart L40 26.38; 28. M White 2nd L50 26.39; 34. S Smith L35 27.32; 60. C Bradley 30.18; 70. C Sweatman L45 31.17. 92 finishers.

Teams -- 1. Belle Vue Racers 23; 2. East Cheshire 26; 3. Horwich RMI 27.

Vet 35 -- 1. Horwich RMI 13; 2. East Cheshire 33; 3. Manchester YMCA 41.

Vet 40 -- 1. Horwich RMI 16; 2. East Cheshire 29; 3. Rochdale 41.