Karl Billington and Barry Mitchell were individual winners in this winter's Mid Lancs Cross Country League, which covered six races at Leyland, Burnley, Liverpool, Lancaster, Hyndburn and Blackburn.

It was an unfortunate irony that Billington couldn't be there to pick up his trophy in the U17 men's category as he was making his international debut representing the English Schools Cross Country team on the same day.

The Blackburn Harrier had won the first four Mid Lancs races, and with the best four results to count made the maximum score.

The Harriers were represented on the night by their U15 girls who collected the team trophy with Charlotte Atkinson, Holly Broughton, Rachel Leech, Lucie Patry, Beckie Taylor and Naomi Thompson.

Clayton's Barry Mitchell also won four times in the over 60 veteran class to win his title ahead of club mate Dave Scott.

With Ted Orrell and Richard Lawson in support they also secured team honours. Clayton's senior and over 40 men made it three team titles with Mark Aspinall, Gary Shaw and Ian Greenwood scoring in every round for the seniors and Aspinall, Greenwood, Phil Hall and Garry Wilkinson proving to be the mainstays of the over 40s.

The senior and over 40 men's teams are in divisions and Chorley Harriers proved to be upwardly mobile with their senior men winning Division 3, and their over 40 men top of their Division 2.

Mark Ellithorn featured heavily for both squads.

Meanwhile, Chorley AC were victorious in the senior men's Division 4 with a dozen different athletes featuring in a real team effort.

Some of the closest racing was in the U17 men's section where despite Karl Billington's best efforts for Blackburn, it was Rossendale Harriers who ended the season in a three way tie at the top with Southport and Liverpool Pembroke.

Joe Kelly was the individual runner-up as Ashley Kay, Tom Maden and Jordan Beard shared in the club's success.

Girls + Women: U11: 2 Elizabeth Greenwood (BH) 3 Amy Moran (P) U13: 4 Jade Lord (P) U15: 2 Emma Spencer (P) 3 Melissa Berry (P) 5 Holly Crabtree (P) 6 Lucie Patry (BH) Teams: 1 Blackburn Harriers 2= Pendle U17: 4 Emma Flanagan (R) 5 Michaela Brolly (C) Teams: 2 Rossendale U20 (Junior): 3 Sarah Yeomans (R) 6 Katie Morris (BH) Team: 2 Rossendale Senior (excl Vets/ Juniors): 4 Heather Corbishley (R) 9 Andrea Wainscott (C) Team: Div 3: 2= Rossendale Vet 35: 3 Lynne Clough (CH) Team: 2= Clayton Vet 45: 4= Sue Burns (C) 4= Anna Kelly (C) Team: 2 Clayton Boys + Men: U11: 3 Callum Davidson (R) 4 Dale Allen (BH) 5 Robert Blow (BH) U13: 5 Daniel Walsh (R) U15: 3 Anthony Hauserman (BH) 4 Joe Johnson (R) Teams: 2 Blackburn Harriers U17: 1 Karl Billington (BH) 2 Joseph Kelly (R) Teams: 1= Rossendale U20 (Junior): 4 Jack Thompson (P) 5 Phil Bolton (R) 6 Grant Cunliffe (R) Team: 2 Rossendale Senior(excl Vets/Juniors): 5= Mark Chippendale (BFR) 7 Matt Nuttall (BH) 8 Gary Shaw (C) 9 Paul Thompson (C) Team: Div 1: 1 Clayton Div 2: 2 Clayton B Div 3: 1 Chorley Harriers Div 4: 1 Chorley AC, 2 Chorley Harriers B Vet 40: 2 Mark Aspinall (C) 3 Mike Whyatt (Garstang) 4= Ian Greenwood (C) 4= Phil Hall (C) Teams: Div 1: 1 Clayton Div2: 1 Chorley Harriers Vet 60: 1 Barry Mitchell (C) 2 Dave Scott (C) Team: 1 Clayton