BOLTON’S team of four returned victorious from Blackpool’s Stanley Park, where the North West Road Relay Championships, which incorporated the county championships of Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire and Merseyside, were held.

Jonny Kay was first up, though the anticipated four miles of his leg was cut short slightly when the lead bike took a wrong turn.

Still, a strong 20mins 34secs put the team fifth and less than 20 seconds off the lead.

The other legs followed the correct route, with Karl Darcy (21:09) moving up to third before Tommy Harrison (22:06) maintained the top-five place.

Tony Valentine (21.32) used his experience to move back into fourth overall and hold off any Greater Manchester challengers – seeing the team home as county champions.

Not content with one day’s racing, Harrison then led nine other Blue Vests at the Blackleach 5M – the latest round of the Central Lancashire Grand Prix hosted by Manchester YMCA Harriers.

BUH&AC times: 2nd Tommy Harrison 29:04, 21st Christian Pickford 33:10, 31st Craig Kenny 34:16, 41st Dean Johnson 34:52, 51st David Chrystal 35:17, 52nd Ken Fowler 35:20, 57th Cameron Donnelly 36:05, 85th Andrew Gallagher 39:13, 112th John Grimshaw 41:45, 181st Gerard Tucker 51:32.

Elsewhere, Dom Clarke clocked 1:42:19 (3,479th) over the half marathon distance of the Great North Run.

Meanwhile, the club was shocked and saddened to learn of the death of Geoff Knowles after a courageous battle against this year. Always happy to talk, his friendliness and understated wit made him a key figure in the endurance training group and he will be greatly missed by the local running community.