Recent recruit Tom Carson produced an emphatic victory and veteran John Ward made it a league hat-trick for Bolton Harriers in last weekend’s Red Rose League at Hyndburn.

Carson made it two wins in a row in the Under 15s, but the narrow margin of his victory in the last fixture was extended to an impressive 22 seconds ahead of the scramble for second place. The Under 15 Boys team finished 3rd, despite the loss of Matt Longworth, who has emigrated to Australia. Carson was backed up by Jacob Mc Manus and Alex Hodkinson. Alex Chadwick proved that he is getting used to the longer distance in only his third race since moving up from the Under 17 boys, finishing 4th junior and 30th overall in the senior race. John Ward was next for Bolton, winning his Over 55 category once again, and finishing 46th overall. Other top-ten finishers for Bolton were Rachel Pounds (7th Under 17) and Georgia Taylor, who was 9th Under 13 Girl. In the Under 11 boys Jack Garmory picked up an excellent 3rd place, and Will Grimshaw was 9th. Red Rose stalwart Alan Fielding was also in action for Harriers, finishing 2nd Over 60. Fielding has completed over 100 Red Rose League races for Bolton in a long career.

In the USA, Tom Lancashire was in action for Florida State University in the Collegiate Nationals in Iowa. Used to hard dry courses, all the Florida runners struggled badly in the thick mud. Lancashire battled round to finish 2nd as expected for his college, but was unable to improve on last year’s 74th place, finishing 94th. Overall he has had a good Cross-Country season however, and will go into the Indoor Track season with confidence after Christmas.

By Andy Parker