Atkins leads way for county on home turf

Forty-four counties from across the country descended on Witton Park for the big annual event that saw 2,000 of the best young runners go head to head.

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Pendle AC duo Kai Atkins and Matthew Barnes certainly did their county proud.

Atkins led Lancashire home in the junior boys race in a time of 12 minutes and 27 seconds to finish in 21st position.

And Barnes was also the county’s fastest finisher in the intermediate boys race when passing the post in 18mins 52secs for 23rd.

Rossendale Harriers’ Matthew Harries was Lancashire’s leading light in the senior boys race, crossing the line in 27mins 9secs for 103rd.

Hyndburn AC’s Blythe Fourie was the Red Rose’s star of the show in the intermediate girls race as she claimed 36th spot in 13mins 40secs.

Wyre & Fylde AC’s Molly Betmead produced a top-10 performance in the senior girls race, taking sixth place in 16mins 21secs, while Ella Moulding, of Lytham St Annes Road Runners, was Lancashire’s fastest finisher in the junior girls race, 27th in 12mins 5secs.

A number of Blackburn Harriers members were selected to represent Lancashire on their home turf.

In the intermediate girls race Grace Handley placed 70th overall and was the second team counter in 13mins 57secs.

She was followed by Liz Greenwood, 137th overall and fourth team counter in 14mins 27secs, and Megan Clarkson, 182nd overall and the seventh team counter in 14mins 46secs.

Katie Buckingham was the fifth team counter and 174th overall in the senior girls race with Maddie Elliott the third team counter and 145th overall in 12mins 51secs.

And in the senior boys race Jack Hindle was the second team counter and 112th overall in 27mins 16secs with Joe Monk, following up in 146th in 27mins 52secs, making him the fourth team counter.

A Blackburn Harriers spokesperson said: “A big thank you to all those Harriers who helped build the course on Friday and marshalled but in particular to Richard Taylor.”