The cross-country season is in full swing and the red vests of Horwich Harriers travelled down the M65 for the second race of the Red Rose League at Townley Park, Burnley last week.

Known for being a flat, fast race, the event was held in unseasonably hot, dry conditions with competitors sweating buckets rather than shivering in the cold.

In the under-11s, Ben Essex-Crosby continued his recent good form with a third placing (6mins 52secs). Louis Yates was 11th (7:19) and Harry Law 38th (8:44) securing fourth team position. Imogen Meakin was first Horwich girl in seventh (7:53), April Mort was 36th (10;39) and Jennifer Irving 39th (10:52) - also matching the boys’ fourth team slot.

Representing the U13s, Kitty Crossland did a sterling job with victory in this category (9:16), while the sole U15s boy, Harry Yates, was a marvellous second in 13:44. The girls seem to come as a package with Gracie Sherborne (17:37), Amelia Shan (17:42) and Eve McDonald (17:42) coming in 10th, 11th and 12th, respectively, while Rebecca Essex-Crosby finished 20th in 20:13.

Consistency proved to be the recipe for success with the girls finishing as second team. Claiming bronze positions was Gracie Mort (23:11), in the U17s, and Alice Tucker (24:32), in the U20s. Emma Bradley followed Alice into fourth (25:27).

The senior ladies are determined bunch and proving to be a force to be reckoned with following up with another strong result as third Vet team. Leading the way was Lindsey Brindle - seventh overall and first lady Vet 40 (21:28) - followed by Stephanie McKee 29th (23:51), Alison Mort 33rd (24:06) and Helen McDonald 37th (24:32).

In the men’s, Luke Foley just missed out on a podium finish in fourth in 31:09. Sam Fairhurst continued a rich vein of form with 13th (32:58) and there was another solid return run from club captain Alastair Murray in 36th and tjhird Vet 45 in 35.20. The bookmakers have shut up shop in the Vet 60 category as Adrian Bramham looks a shoe-in with another commanding run, 48th finisher and first Vet 60 (36:15), while Mark Walsh continues to run well in the Vet 55 category with a fifth in age and 63rd finisher (37:30). Hot on his tails was Adam McDonald, in 65th (38:01). Richard O’Reilly had a self-proclaimed satisfactory 90th position (40:31), while Douglas Fleming produced an excellent display to claim victory in the Vet 65 category (42:30). In 165th was Jason Middleton (54:47). These results leave Horwich fifth in the Vets team group.

Travelling overseas were two intrepid Horwich adventurers. Irish international runner, Ian Conroy, was in Morbega, Italy doing what he loves best, that is running up steep mountains and representing Ireland in the Trofeo Vanoni race. Consisting of a three-man relay team, the course involves 435m of ascent over a distance of 7.2km. It is a highly-respected international race fielding an array of talent from all the major European countries. It comes armed with a reputation of being a very fast mountain course and Conroy finished in 92nd place (36:01).

Meanwhile in Germany, Steve Thomasson was back on familiar ground taking on Dresden’s historic city centre half-marathon for the third time. Despite, a tight hamstring, little or no recent training and getting into the Christmas spirit a little too early, Thomason was close to his sub-105 minute target with a time of 1:45:21.

At parkrun, Dominic Jones was 49th (22:57) at Preston, Mark Seddon took on his local Bolton course, finishing 52nd in 26:05, and at Haigh Hall first Harrier back O’Reilly started off rapidly for the downhill but faded badly on the return uphill to finish 19th overall and first Vet 55 in 21:03.

A large contingent followed with Leo Orrell 27th (21:45), Sophie Orrell 55th (24:24), Andrew Storey 115th (28:03), Gail Maxfield 136th (29:03), Dom McKenna 203rd (32:52), Gillian Smith 256th (37.08) and track coach Marcus Taylor 259th in 37:17.

Rob Jackson was first Vet 55 at Peel in 18:45, while Maria Lowe was second lady (21:51) at Stretford and Sean McMyler first Vet (21:54).

The Pinnells, Lawrence and Heather, were 29th and 30th at Sutton Manor and Isaac Parker 23rd in a great time of 18:34 at Storey Fields.