Horwich Harrier Isaac Battye was selected to represent England in the Mountain Running Home International in Ireland after a successful trial last month and performed well.

The event was part of the British and Irish Junior Mountain Championship in Glendalough, County Wicklow, and Battye came ninth of all runners, and in doing so succeeded in helping England to second place in the Under-20 team open category, as well as retaining the Edinburgh Trophy.

Also on the fells and hills, James Titmuss and his 15-year-old son Mark ran the 15.2km Lake District Mountain Trial together, which was somehow the short version as the full version is twice that length, covering the hilly route in a shade over three hours while winning the team accolade in the process.

Meanwhile, the England Cross Country Championships also took place - rescheduling moved it to September after initially being earmarked for February.

It took place among the splendid grounds of Weston Park, near Telford. and several Horwich youngsters took part.

Sophie Orrell and Maddison Wilkinson ran in the U13 girls, Eve McDonald took part in the U15 girls, Charlotte Wilkinson ran particularly well in the U17s race, Emma Bradley also in that race, while Ted Billington gained experience in the junior men’s outing and Alice Tucker did likewise in the junior women’s race.

Joe Mercer and Luke Foley both came in the top 100 in the senior men’s race, Simon Bruton produced a capable performance and team captain Michael Wilkinson was also leading by example in taking part.

Janet Rashleigh came in the top half in the senior women’s race, while Alison Mort and Helen McDonald were comfortably in the middle of the pack.

Several Harriers were found at different parkruns across the country.

Three made their way to Leverhulme Park for Bolton Parkrun as Robert Seddon came sixth in 21mins 33secs, Mark Swindell broke the 28-minute mark and Gail Maxfield comfortably got under 30.

Isaline Kneale went to St. Helens and was third V55 in 26:55, Andrew Crickmore visited his stomping ground at Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire and clocked a personal best showing in 20:20, while Gillian Smith went to Haigh Woodland’s hilly route and produced a consistent 36:20.

The Middletons, Jason and Janet, were in Salford for Peel Parkrun, running 27:17 and 32:10, while evergreen Tony Hesketh took first V75 in 28:07.

Chris Essex-Crosby went for a gentle one at Worden, coming home in 28:34, while the best performances came from Richard Pollitt (first in Aberystwyth in a rapid 17:46), Phil Marsden (first at Burnley in 16:35), and youngster Harry Yates, who clocked a splendid second PB in a row at Peel, hitting the finish in seventh place after 18 minutes exactly.

Away from racing, as part of Harriers centenary celebrations, money was raised supporting the work of the CRY (Cardio Risk in the Young) charity, resulting in a cheque donation for £4,109.52.