Twelve Horwich Harriers turned out at Lostock for the second round of the Central Lancs GP last Sunday and performed well.

There was a spring in the step of the runners in red as fast times abounded, with the ladies’ course record broken.

Matt Wilson was first Harrier home, showing his marathon build-up is going well, placing 19th in a time of 35mins 31secs. Wilson netted second vet 40 and a personal-best time for his efforts.

Marcus Taylor was only four places behind, finishing first V50 in 36:00 - also a PB - meaning his morning consisted of six miles at a six minutes apiece. Sean McMyler was first V60, completing the course in 40:27, and Mary White was first FV70 (52:30). Steve Thomasson took nearly 50 seconds off his course PB, breasting the tape after 43:49.

At the UK Athletics Indoor Championships, 19-year-old Sophie Walton impressed in her first senior championships, running a season’s best 24.25 in the 200m semi-finals, placing second in the race. Only the winner progressed to the final, but Walton proved she could run fast times when it counts in the biggest races. She will now turn her attention to the outdoor season.

Last Saturday, Doug Fleming took a break from his natural habitat, the fells, and tackled the quagmire of Elnup Woods in the Standish Hall Trail race. He completed the boggy 10k race in 49:57.

A week prior, Tony Hesketh took on the near seven-mile Parbold Hill race. The winning time was 10 minutes slower than last year’s, a reflection of just how wet this winter has been on a hilly course which traverses farmland in rural Lancashire. Despite taking a tumble leaping over the hay bales on the final descent, Hesketh managed to clinch the first V75 award.

In parkrun, Grace Freary was first female finisher and fifth overall at Pennington Flash, with a time of 22:13, while Richard Pollitt enjoyed victory at Dublin’s Brickfields. Five young Harriers took to Haigh Woodlands where Charlotte Wilkinson came out on top as first female finisher in 21:10.

Rob Jackson was panicked when his regular venues, Peel and Platt Fields, were cancelled due to waterlogging and his third choice, Alexandra Park, was called off at the last minute due to ice. He found sanctuary at Sale, and ran 19:04 to finish first in the overall age grading.