Road relays season kicked off with the North West regionals at Edge Hill University last Sunday and Horwich Harriers juniors led the way.

The under-11 boys picked up fifth place overall and second in Greater Manchester. Ben Essex-Crosby got the team off to a flying start, completing a lap of the 1.5km circuit in 7mins 17secs. He handed over to Elliot Walker-Wilton, who consolidated Essex-Crosby’s fast start with a 7:34 leg. Not to be outdone by his twin, Oscar Walker-Wilton posted 7:40 and collected the plaudits across the finish line.

The U15 girls had a 2.8km track to tackle, which they did with aplomb in worsening conditions. Once again, it was an Essex-Crosby with the job of setting the tone in the first leg, as Ben’s sister Rebecca got the team off to a flyer (14:21). Eve Macdonald followed with a blistering 12:48 and Amelia Shan finished off in style with 13:53. The team finished seventh in the Greater Manchester area.

In the senior men’s race, Alastair Murray kicked off with 17:43 over 5km. The rest of the team comprised of Sam Fairhurst (16:56) George Butler (21:49) and Simon Bruton (17:51).

The previous Thursday saw the final summer intra club event - the famous Downhill Race. The aim is to descend from the Winter Hill mast to the RMI club in Horwich, via Rivington Pike, as fast as possible. Route choice is optional, and the fastest lines are closely guarded secrets. Adam MacDonald found the perfect line off Rivington Pike but lost everything he gained through the streets of Horwich, as Julian Goudge came out on top in their battle for victory. Goudge clocked 19:02, MacDonald 20:00, with Dan Gilbert third in 20:44. Lindsey Brindle (21:43) was first lady and fourth overall.

At the world’s biggest half-marathon, 60,000 runners take on the iconic route from Newcastle to South Shields, and Gary Porteous returned to his native North East to tackle the Great North Run. He posted a pacy time of 1:39:02. Not far behind was Chris Charnley, who was pleased to take to the start after his summer running was blighted by back issues. With his poor build-up in mind, he was delighted to record a PB of 1:47:24.

Always on the hunt for a new challenge, Marcus Taylor threw himself into his most audacious test yet - the infamous Dragon’s Back Race. Considered one of the toughest mountain races in the world, the route takes competitors 236 miles (53,800 feet of ascent) down Wales’ mountainous spine over six gruelling stages.S

tarting at Conwy Castle in the north, the route snakes through Snowdonia, the Cambrian mountains, the Elan valley and the Brecon Beacons to the finish at Cardiff Castle. Taylor finished in a cumulative time of 77:07:44 - an astonishing feat of mental and physical endurance in a race where simply reaching the finish is considered a victory.

Louis Yates travelled to Bury for the Trafford AC Medal Meeting. The young prospect won silver in both his 600m (1:56.20) and 75m (11.67) races, the latter a PB. He concluded his busy day with 3.32m in the long jump.