HARRIERS Tom Boardman and Anne Powell were the individual Leigh squad stars at the Northern Cross Country championships.

Both finished in unlucky 13th spot in their high class fields at the Heaton Park, Manchester, competition on Saturday.

The U17 girls shone in the team events finishing just out of the medals in fourth.

In the first race Tom ran a committed race in the U17 boys' 5.7k over a tough course crossing the line in 18min 23sec.

Outstanding run

In the senior ladies Anne produced an outstanding run against the cream of the northern clubs athletes to finish the 7.8k in 28min 15sec.

The boys' U17 squad also finished 13th with Tom supported by Sam Cooke 95th in 20min 32sec, Alex Urmston 117th in 21min 12sec and Andy Edwards 135th in 22min 52sec.

Another outstanding performance came from Hannah Warburton who ran her best race of the season for 15th in the girls' U13 3k in 12min 17sec.

In the girls' U13 Lauren Howarth came home 19th in 12min 22sec and in her first championship race Kirsty Hogan finished a creditable 148th in 14min 28sec.

The senior ladies' event saw Anne followed home by Marjorie Leigh in 144th in 35min 43sec. Sarah Cain was 192nd in 23min 4sec.

The U17 girls finished an unlucky fourth after fine runs over the 4.7k course by Adele Swanton who battled for 20th place in 19min 29sec, and was followed home by Lizzy Heaton 41st in 20min 31sec, Amanda Fearnley 50th in 21min 13sec and Yasmin Foulds 71st in 23min 4sec.

Mike Goddard gave a much improved performance for 40th in the boys' U15 run over 4k completing the course in 13min 44sec. Good team support came from Tom Henders 148th in 15min 23sec and Luke Foster 158th in 15min 56sec.

First counter

The U15 girls finished in 16th team place after good 4k runs from Gemma Farley 37th in 16min 3sec, Rebecca Howarth 60th in 16min 29sec, Emma Morris 110th in 17min 34sec and Louise Boardman 132nd in 18min 32sec.

Phil Foster was Leigh's first counter in the men's 11.5k completing the course in 134th place in 41min 48sec in a field of over 800 runners. John Howarth was 145th in 42min 1sec, Andy Arnold 270th in 44min 26sec and Dave Helps 386th in 46min 52sec.