The Harriers of Rossendale and Todmorden opened their cross country league campaigns on Saturday with the first fixture in the Red Rose League at Bury.

However, it was 11-year-old Danielle Walker of Burnley AC running as a guest who took the plaudits with victory in the under 13 race. The boys and girls raced together and only two of the boys finished ahead of her. Elder sister Alexis was fifth while Gemma Nuttall was Rossendale's highest counter in 10th. Ramiro Meekes was third boy for Rossendale.

Lancashire Fell Champion Andy Wrench was second in the senior men's race, but with winner John Brown from Salford running as a guest, Andy earned maximum league points.

He led his club Todmorden to team glory with Sean Willis seventh, Jon Wright 12th, Paul Brannigan 16th, Robert Glover 19th and Karl Smith 21st their other counters.

Rossendale were close behind with Martin Lee in sixth and Andy Payne eighth scoring heavily. Also in the team were Steve Duxbury the M45 winner, Phil Taylor the first M40 and Chris White 2nd junior. Marine Brian Cole was fourth in his last event before Sunday's Washington Marathon. The former Darwen Dasher has recently been at a ski training camp at Tignes in the French Alps

Burnley coach Dave Goodwin reports that the Red Rose League welcomed his athletes even though the club is not in the league. Members of non affiliated clubs can compete as individuals for a nominal entry fee. For further details of the league call Bill Bowland 0161-7977827.

Red Rose League: Under 13 Boys: 1 Scott McManus (Bury) 9:01, 3 Ramiro Meekes (R) 9:41, 13 Daniel Hoyle (R) 10:36, 15 Max Winterbottom (R) 10:41, 16 Christopher Farrow (R) 10:48, 17 Aidan Smyth (R) 10:49 (Team: 1 Bury, 3 Rossendale) Under 13 Girls: 1 Danielle Walker (B) 9:34, 5 Alexis Walker (B) 10:34, 10 Gemma Nuttall (R) 11:06, 11 Peach Murphy (R) 11:17 (Team: 1 Oldham & Royton 3 Rossendale) Under 15 Girls: 1 Katie Smith (Bolton) 16:38, 7 Poppy Cooper (R) 18:39 Ladies: 1 Janet Rashleigh (Horwich) 22:58, 11 Karen Taylor (R) 27:28, 15 Michelle Dew (R) 28:05, 17 Julie Feeney (R) 28:57 (Team: 1 Horwich, 4 Rossendale Vet Team: 1 Horwich, 3 Rossendale 2/3Taylor, Feeney and 31st Elaine Nuttall 32:27) Men: 1 John Brown (Salford) 33:58, 2 Andy Wrench (T) 34:40, 4 Brian Cole (Horwich) 35:17, 6 Martin Lee (R) 35:24, 7 Sean Willis (T) 35:56, 8 Andy Payne (R) 35:57, 9 (1st M45) Steve Duxbury (R) 36:12, 12 Jon Wright (T) 36:48, 13 (1st M40) Phil Taylor (R) 36:58, 16 Paul Brannigan (T) 37:32, 19 Robert Glover (T) 37:40, 21 Karl Smith (T) 37:59, 22 Mark Rice (R) 38:10, 34 (2nd Junior) Chris White (R) 38:58, 40 Andy Buttery (R) 39:52, 41 (4th M45) Nigel Gotts 40:07, 51 Eric Richardson (R) 41:13, 65 (5th M50) Graham Wright (R) 42:57, 68 (4th Junior) Anthony Gotts (R) 43:17, 83 (1st M55) John Devlin (T) 45:30, 113 (1st M60) George Barrow (T) 54:37 (Teams: 1 Todmorden, 2 Rossendale Vet Team: 1 Bolton, 2 Rossendale Duxbury, Taylor, Gotts, Richardson)