LEIGH Harriers' outstanding cross-country season continued at Stockport's Woodbank Park on Saturday.

Competing for Wigan Borough Schools in the Greater Manchester cross country championships, Gema Farley was in top form for the second week running.

Having won a team bronze medal in the Northern cross country championships the previous week, she won her first county schools title.

Competing in the Junior Girls race over a tough two mile course, Gema led from the gun and was never overtaken as she romped home by 10 seconds to earn a place in the English Schools championships at Chelmsford in March.

In the same race Rebecca Howarth ran herself into a a reserve team place, finishing 15th. Louise Boardman was 49th, Emma Morris 59th and Clare Thompson 76th.

In the Inter-Girls race over 2.5 miles, Adele Swanton raced into the Greater Manchester team with a super fourth place. Lizzy Heaton was ninth and Amanda Fearnley 10th to both make the reserve team. Emma Tonge, in her first championship event, was a creditable 36th.

In the Inter-Boys race over three miles, Thomas Boardman ran his best race for some time to finish in 11th and just miss out on an automatic team place. Sam Cooke was rewarded with a top 20 place, Alex Urmston was 38th, Neil Pendlebury 53rd and Andy Edwards 57th.

In the Minor Girls race over 1.5 miles, Lauren Howarth, despite suffering with a cold, finished an outstanding 12th. Andrea Kay was 40th and Stephanie Orrell 60th.

In the Minor Boys race, Wigan's lone representative Lee Battersby was 47th. Mike Goddard was 20th in the Junior Boys race.

Toni Bowers had a marvellous run in the Senior Girls race. Recovering from an operation less than a month ago, she won a reserve team place by finishing 13th.