Leigh provided all the local Clubs with their first taste of Cross Country action this winter, but in summer type conditions with the sun shining on this flattish course.

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Thirty three Harriers competed on the day in the different age categories with some good performances. First up in the U11Boys race featuring 77 runners were Edward Lee (24th) in 10.44, followed by Rory Teare (26th) in 10.48, then debutant Joseph Carolan (34th) in 11.04 and another debutant Tejay Larner (61st) in 12.01. The lads finished 7th Team overall and clearly enjoyed the day.

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The U11 Girls performed really well in the 98 strong field of 13 Teams, finishing third team overall. Leading the Harriers home was Eleesha Charnley in 9th place in a time of 8.52, followed by Anna Rankine in 14th (9.04); Eleanor Allsop in 21st (9.25) and Kate Cookson (58th) in a time of 10.23.

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Jamie Teare was first Harrier home in the U13 Boys race which had 55 runners competing. Jamie placed 14th in 10.00 and was supported by Daniel Brown in 31st (11.07). In the U13 Girls featuring 60 runners, Emily Warren finished in 18th place (10.54) and Anna Lonsdale in 33rd (11.47).

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Josh Boyle in his first race for the Club ran a cracking race to finish second in the U15’s with 40 runners in it, in a time of 13.38. The U15 Girls took third place in the Team competition, led home in 5th place out of the 42 runners by Maddie Elliott in a time of 15.59, closely followed by Megan Clarkson in 7th overall (16.08) and Hannah Cookson in 20th (17.52). Liz Greenwood took 4th place in the U17 Women’s Race (22.55). In the U20 Women’s Race, Katie Buckingham had a really solid run following a week suffering from a cold to finish 4th in 23.59.

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In the Senior Women’s Race featuring 142 runners and 16 Teams, Blackburn finished 14th Team in the Open Race and 13th in the Women’s Vet Team Competition with Louise McCauley finishing 42nd in a time of 26.36 and backed up by Carol Cookson (60th) in 28.49 and Michelle Teare (72nd) in 30.10.

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Eleven Harriers competed in the Men’s Senior Race with 246 runners and won by Tom Carson in 35.55. Matt Nuttall had a really good race to lead the Harriers home in 11th place (39.07) and in the process led the Team to second place out of the 18 competing Teams in the Open Race – won the Men’s Vet Team Category – and also won the V45 Category to complete a really good day for him. Second home for the Harriers was Andy Buttery in 18th (39.52) and third V40 on the day. Chris Davies followed him home – running with fractured fingers – in 23rd (40.18) and followed home as 4th counter for the Team by 17yr old Joe Campbell who had a really good race in 31st (41.01).

V40 John Sutton was just a few places back in 34th (41.07) and Chris Barnes a further three places behind in (41.23) 37th overall. V45 Jonathon Bridge came in 51st (42.40); V45 Gary Pearse 61st (43.15); V45 David Almond (76th) in 44.19; Allan Hartley 110th in 46.30; V40 John Cookson in 157th (49.50) and Danny Teare 225th in 56.04.

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