LOWTON High School's Thomas Boardman was unlucky to miss out on a place in the national squad following a terrific performance for his county.

Representing Greater Manchester in the English Schools' Cross Country Championships in Brighton on Saturday the Leigh Harrier needed to finish in the top eight to qualify for the England squad to compete in the British championships in Ireland.

Sadly he was pipped at the post finishing ninth after a desperate run for the line at the end of a tough four mile course.

Consolation for a disappointed Thomas was that his performance was the best at the championships by a Leigh Harrier for seven years and that he helped Greater Manchester to win the team award finishing as the squad's second counter.

Fellow harrier and Westleigh High county star Adele Swanton had a disappointing run. She was last out of the pen and faced the impossible task of overtaking 350 runners, but did well to finish 209th.

In the national cross country championships at Parliament Hill 13-years-old Lauren Howarth ran an excellent race to finish 25th in a field of over 300 athletes. She clocked 14min 38sec for the two and a half mile course.

Not to be outdone by the club's youngsters Derek Howarth won the over 70s northern veterans' championship at Hull.

With the start of the outdoor track season approaching 11 -years-old Hannah Warburton smashed the Leigh club's five years old 1200m record at Warrington recording 4min 11sec.

Lauren Howarth, 13, was also in good form recording 13min 59sec for the same distance.

Alex Urmston finished fifth in 37min 57sec in the Wigan 10k road race to lead the Leigh team to victory.

The course, which took the form of two laps around Haigh Hall, saw Andy Arnold cross the line in sixth in 38min 55sec, Sam Cooke ninth in 39min 30sec, Nick White 13th in 40min 11 sec and David Wailes 86th in 53min 43sec.