ROSSENDALE Harriers athlete Chris Fell finished in third place in the first round of the Mid Lancs Cross Country League at Burnley’s Towneley Park on Saturday.

Liverpool Harriers’ Mathew Shirling won the race in 32 minutes 48 seconds with Kendal’s Alasdair Russell second in 33mins 27secs. Fell was just two seconds behind Russell in third.

Another Rossendale runner Joe Johnston was sixth in 33mins 52secs with fellow clubmate Robert Webb 15th in 34mins 52secs.

Spencer Riley, of Clayton-le-Moors Harriers, was 22nd in 35mins 59secs with Blackburn Harriers’ Shaun Livesey 33rd in 36mins 36secs.

Blackburn clubmate Thomas Blaney was 35th in 36mins 40secs, one place and one second behind Trawden’s Chris Singleton.

Clayton-le-Moors Harriers athlete Phil Hall was the second over 50s, taking 55th place overall in 37mins 54secs. Trawden’s David Lord was fifth in the over 50s, with Clayton’s Paul Brannon eighth.

Another Clayton runner, Andrew Armstrong, was ninth in the over 40s and 60th overall in 38mins 9secs. Rossendale’s Jonathan Melia was the 15th over 40s athlete to finish in 38mins 51secs.

In the over 60s section, Clayton’s Jeffrey Pickup was fifth in 44mins 34secs and Chorley’s Barry Chester was seventh in 47mins 14secs.

Rossendale finished fifth in the team competition with Clayton sixth and Blackburn eighth. Clayton were fourth in the over 40s and second in the over 50s. Chorley won the over 60s team event with Clayton second.

In the ladies’ race, Blackburn Harriers’ Helen Leigh was seventh in 24mins 57secs with Accrington Road Runners’ Sarah Ridehalgh 10th overall and the fourth over 35 in 25mins 37secs.

Fellow Accrington athlete Debbie Gowans was second in the over 45s category and 11th overall in 25mins 43secs, while Blackburn’s Laura Hesketh was 17th overall in 26mins exactly.

Trawden’s Christina Singleton was 19th in 26mins 7secs with Blackburn’s Rebecca Shorrock 22nd in 26mins 30secs. Clubmate Sarah Toms was 24th in 27mins 21secs.

Chorley’s Laura Murphy was the 13th over 35 runner in 29mins 10secs, while Clayton’s Irene Roche was third in the over 55s category in 29mins 38secs.

Blackburn were second in the team event with Accrington seventh, also winning the over 35s category and finishing second in the over 45s section.