Horwich Harriers HORWICH RMI Harriers were out in force at the first race in the Red Rose XC League, held at Wilson playing fields in Bury last Saturday.

The warm autumn afternoon saw a dry course, although there were patches of deep sticky mud in places.

Both Horwich's men and ladies got off to a tremendous start in this season's campaign, with Jason Hodgson leading from the front to record a brilliant win in the senior men's race. Jan Rashleigh finished second overall and first vet in the ladies race, narrowly missing out on a double first for Horwich.

In the junior races, Horwich's highest placed finisher was Katherine Cole, who was third U17, running the same course and distance as the senior ladies.

With over 50 Horwich RMI competitors in this fixture, their red vests were clearly out to start the season with a bang. Victory for the senior ladies, veteran ladies and veteran men's teams bodes well for the forthcoming races in both the Red Rose and SE Lancs Leagues.

Today sees the start of the SE Lancs League at Rochdale, when no doubt the Harriers will again be out in large numbers.

Horwich RMI Harrier Nigel Clementson showed his fellow competitors a clean pair of heels at the recent Blackburn Duathlon, finishing over 1 minutes ahead of second place (second place actually being a combined team). His margin over the next individual competitor in third place, was an impressive 2 mins 25 secs.

The 5K run took in part of the Roddlesworth Roller Course, and was therefore a trail route, with the 20K bike section seeing the competitors riding into a stiff head wind towards Tockholes with a following wind back to Darwen and Abbey Village.

Vet/50 Tony Hesketh was an impressive first in his category yet again, in 22nd place overall. Horwich's other three competitors were Sue Jones, who had another good effort as she finished second lady, Carolyn Wright a superb first lady Vet/40 and Sara Smith, seventh lady and 87th overall.

Unfortunately fellow Horwich Harrier Jack Foulds had to finish his effort after the first 5K run. RESULTS: Results Blackburn Duathlon (run 5K, bike 5K, run 5K) -- 1. N Clementson V/40 18.26(4) 35.47(1) 20.07(4): 1.14.20; 2. Harrison and Noon (Pudsey and Bramley) 18.51(6) 37.55(5) 19.12(1): 1.15.58; 3. E Nicoll (Hewitt Racing) 18.24(3) 36.47(2) 21.34(17): 1.16.45; 22. T Hesketh 1st V/50 (Horwich RMI) 19.47(12) 43.46(42) 21.07(13): 1.24.40; 48. S Jones 2nd/L 22.00(43) 45.54(56) 23.21(38): 1.31.15; 80. C Wright 1st/L40 25.33(101) 49.33 (80) 25.53(71): 1.40.59; 87. S Smith L 25.31(100) 50.19(84) 26.32(80): 1.42.22; n/f J Foulds V/40 22.37(55). 111 finishers.

Red Rose Cross Country League (Bury): Senior Men -- 1. J Hodgson (Horwich RMI) 33.15; 2. R Hayman (Belgrave) 33.18; 3. G Counsell (Bolton) 33.55; 8. D Townsend (Horwich RMI) 35.08; 14. G Schofield 3rd/V/45 33.36; 16. C Rigby 35.49; 19. T Orrell V/45 36.08; 20. K Gaskell V/40 36.20; 24. N Wrigley 36.38; 40. A Sunter V/40 38.15; 41. S Jackson V/45 38.15; 48. A Hallahan JM 39.07; 49. G Fish V/40 39.12; 50. N Clementson V/40 39.14; 56. J Severn JM 39.58; 60. M Crook V/50 40.13; 73. P Murray 1st/V/60 41.24; 78. I Smith V/45 42.05; 81. P Bland V/50 42.16; 82. T Varley V/50 42.21; 87. S Baines V/40 42.16; 89. C Waterworth V/45 43.00; 90. P Ramsdale V/40 43.02; 92. K Makin V/50 43.14; 96. G Stone V/45 43.54; 99. M Stringfellow 44.15; 102. W Hallahan V/45 44.50; 106. A Blinkhorn V/50 45.12; 108. P Scott V/55 45.32; 112. T Gidman V/55 46.53; 117. B Allman V/45 47.25. 123 finishers.

Men's teams (six to count) -- 1. Bolton 52, 2. Horwich RMI 64, 3. Rossendale 105.

Vet's teams (four to count) -- 1. Horwich RMI 28, 2. Rossendale 29, 3. Bolton 57.

Senior Ladies -- 1. A Powell (Leigh Harriers) 21.48; 2. J Rashleigh 1st/L40 (Horwich RMI) 22.35; 3. L Whittaker (Saddleworth) 23.23; 4. S Jones 1st/L35 (Horwich RMI) 24.12; 5. G Jones 24.17; 7. S Webb L40 24.35; 12. G Higson 25.30; 14. L Leyland L40 26.21; 16. A Foster 1st/L50 26.42; 17. N Guffogg 26.56; 29. M Claughan 30.26; 30. C Bradley 30.37; 31. C Sweatman L45 31.28. 38 finishers.

Ladies teams (three to count) -- 1. Horwich RMI 8, 2. Saddleworth 17, 3. Todmorden 43.

Vet's teams (three to count) -- 1. Horwich RMI 7, 2. Saddleworth 25, 3. Todmorden 33.

U17 Women -- 1. S Standring (Bury AC) 24.57; 2. K Ebrell (Bury AC) 25.34; 3. K Cole (Horwich RMI) 26.54; 8. K Bibby 34.28. 8 finishers.

U15 Girls -- 1. A Lancashire (Bolton) 15.28; 2. K Smith (Bolton) 15.31; 3. E Graham (u/a) 16.13; 10. S Keggin (Horwich RMI) 17.25; 14. L Anderton 17.53; 18. V Harold 18.34. 24 finishers.

U13 Girls -- 1. D Walker (Burnley) 9.08; 2. L Evans (Bury AC) 9.12; 3. K Bulger (Bury AC) 9.32; 6. E Rashleigh (Horwich RMI) 10.05; 7. K Milner 10.25; 12. N Brownlow 10.52; 24. L Hindley 11.27; 29. A Eccles 12.14. 33 finishers.

Teams (three to count) -- 1. Bury AC 14, 2. Burnley 21, 3. Horwich RMI 22.

U13 Boys -- 1. S McManus (Bury AC) 8.41; 2. J Cole (Bury AC) 9.00; 3. R Schofield (u/a) 9.05; 4. R McNeeley (Horwich RMI) 9.19; 27. M Jones 10.41. 34 finishers.