BARLICK Fell Runners’ Chris Singleton was the first East Lancashire-based male across the line in the latest round of the Mid Lancs Cross Country League.

Hundreds of athletes from across the county gathered at Lawsons Ground, in Blackpool, on Valentine’s Day to contest races in several categories.

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The men completed four long laps of the course, covering a total distance of 10km, and Singleton came home in fourth in a time of 34mins 08secs.

He was followed over the line nine seconds later by Gary Shaw, of Burnley Athletics Club, who was the first V40 home.

Blackburn Harriers Mat Nuttall came home seventh in exactly 35 minutes, and he was the second V40 over the line.

Barlick Fell Runners had four men in the top 20, with Nick Treitl ninth (35:05), James Craig 13th (35:25) and Ian Livesey 18th (36:13).

Tim Raynes, of Blackburn Harriers, finished in 35:35 for 14th place, while the first Clayton Le Moors Harriers runner to finish was Tom Brester, in 23rd, in a time of 36:23.

Pendle Athletic Club’s Joshua Ingham finished sixth in the U20 category (38:10), while Kevin Davies of Clayton Le Moors Harriers was second V50 in a time of 38:16.

His team-mate Peter Booth claimed third in the V60 category, crossing the line in 45:09.

Despite four top 20 finishes Barlick Fell Runners could only manage second in the team results, behind Preston Harriers. Clayton Le Moors Harriers finished fourth, with Blackburn Harriers down in seventh.

Christina Singleton, of Trawden Athletics Club, was fifth in the ladies event over 6km, finishing in a time of 24:11.

Accrington Road Runners’ Debbie Gowans clocked 25:17 to finish 16th, and fifth in the L45 category, and they were the top ranked East Lancashire team, taking seventh place.

Ellen Sagar-Hesketh was first to finish for Hyndburn Athletics Club in 26:45, which was good enough for 25th overall and fifth L20.

The ladies in the Barlick Fell Runners squad couldn’t match the success of the men, with Jackie Hodgson their top finisher in 36th (27:36).

James Marchant, of Pendle Athletics Club, was the second to cross the line in the U17 men, completing the 6kms in 21:36, with Clayton Le Moors Harriers Jordan McDonald fourth in 22:23.

Kai Atkins, also of the Pendle club, was second in U15 boys, completing the 4km course in 13:31, nine seconds ahead of Rossendale Harriers and Athletics Club member Joshua Whitehead, who was third.

Maddie Elliot, of Blackburn Harriers, finished third in U15 girls, while team-mate Jamie Teare was second in U13 boys.

Briony Holt took top spot on the podium for Clayton Le Moors Harriers in the U13 girls, finishing the 2.5km course in 9:29, while Chorley Athletic and Triathlon Club member Emily Warren was second in U11 girls.