BLACKBURN Harriers Senior Road Relay team produced the best performance by an East Lancashire club for over 20 years in the Northern 12 stage road relay championships held at Manchester's Heaton Park on Saturday.

Besides being the top Lancashire club by finishing in 11th place, this performance was against the best clubs in the North.

Their success qualified them for the National Championships at Sutton Coldfield later this month.

In glorious spring weather, good for fast times, Paul Guinan led off with an impressive opening long leg quickly backed by Matt Wood.

Toby Banfield timed at 15.42 following a tough 5k.

By the end of new Scottish signing Max Colligan's fourth leg, the Harriers were up to 18th.

Then Mick Blackburn and Matt Nuttall, with sterling efforts, set up top distance man Ben Fish for the fastest long leg for the club of 26.31 for 8k; moving Blackburn to 15th.

Jon Bridge and Scott Monk both returned solid short stages before Tom Cornthwaite, on his long leg against good opposition, pushed the club through to 11th.

This position was secured by Mark Almond and fell expert Richard Thomas on the glory leg -- to cap a fine performance.

To add to the day's success the reserve 'B' team -- with fastest stages by George Woodburn and Adrian Shorrock -- got in the top five 'B' teams on the day; again top Lancashire team.

The club now await the return from the USA of Michael Green who will attempt to break his own club record of 2.17 at the London marathon looking to qualify for the Commonwealth Games.