ON THE RUN: Runners competing in the Under 11s race
THE final round of the Mid Lancs Cross Country League was held at Witton Park and host club Blackburn Harriers had plenty to cheer about.
Top billing for the Harriers went to Alan McKeown and Pauline Powell who took victories in the U15 Boys race and Senior Women's race respectively.
While England international runner Powell was expected to win at this level, McKeown upset the odds to win his category in his first season in competitive cross country.
And there was double the reason to celebrate for McKeown who led Blackburn Harriers team to victory with Robert Warner (8th), James Eastham (11th) and Chris Matthews(15th) making up the four counters - underlining the club's depth of talent in the age group.
The Under 15s girls also won the team prize on the day to take the overall title. Lucie Patry was first counter in 4th place with Naomi Thompson (8th), Holly Broughton 14th), Charlotte Atkinson (15th) and Rachel Leech all completing a good day for the girls.
Pendle AC did well to take third spot thanks to Emma Spencer (5th), Holly Crabtree (10th), Melissa Berry (22nd) and Sarah Wilson (38th)
Elsewhere, there were a number of impressive performances from other East Lancs runners.
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In the Under 11s Girls, Amy Moran of Pendle Athletic Club was the best placed local runner in fourth place with Rebecca Flanagan of Rossendale Harriers finishing in eighth place.
There were some strong runs in the Under 11s Boys category with five local runners inside the top 10 - including Blackburn pair Dale Allen (5th) and Robert Blow (9th).
Rossendale Harrier Callum Davidson was first home in second place with William Moynihan of Hyndburn Athletics Club seventh and Oliver Spencer of Pendle AC 10th.
Blackburn Harriers Emily Fletcher (5th) and Sally Searson (8th) enjoyed top 10 finishes in the Under 13s girls.
In the Under 15s boys, Rossendale Harriers' Joe Johnston finished hot on the heels of winner McKeown to take third place and help Harriers to third in the team event.
The squad also included Luke Gregory (14th), Elliot Whylie (19th) and Jack Stringfellow (22nd).
And Mark Brown (24th), Thomas Booth (26th), Ciaran Downs (30th) and Matthew McDonald (32nd) helped Chorley Harriers to fifth place.
Rossendale Harriers took the team prize in the Under 17s thanks largely to the performances of Ashley Kay (2nd) and Jordan Beard (5th). Melanie Taylor was Blackburn Harriers lone U17 Women in 8th and Danny Maynard also a lone U17 Man in 14th. It was a race Karl Billington had the luxury of being able to sit having already wrapped up the U17 Men's title.
In the Under 20s ladies, Rossendale's Sarah Yeomans was second with Chorley AC's Jeanette Murray was seventh.
As expected, Powell ran to victory in the ladies race but Lynne Clough of Chorley (eighth) and Pendle's Katie Trickett (9th) also impressed.
In the men's race, the top performances came from teams rather than individuals - with Clayton Harriers running to a hat-trick of titles.
Harriers won the senior men's team title with Phil Hall (16th) leading Clayton home with Mark Aspinall (17th), Paul Thompson (21st) and Gary Shaw (25th) more than playing their part.
Harriers also dominated the Vet40 section taking the top two places.
Hall and Aspinall were also a part of the team that also included Ian Greemwood, who was 30th overall, and Garry Wilkinson was was 40th.
The second placed team included Mark Brown, Alan Life, Brian Horrocks and Sean Clare.
And the hat-trick was completed by the Vet60 team that included Barry Mitchell - 87th overall and first in the age group - Stephen James (120th) and Ted Orrell (147th).
Hosts Blackburn Harriers had six senior runners in action but recent recruit Josh Tighe was a non-counter so they didn't manage a team finish.
Matt Nuttall was the club's finisher in 14th place followed by Tighe, Brian Fogarty, Gary Pearse, Craig Greenough and Mark Almond.
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