LEIGH Harriers had a series of outstanding results at the first South East Cross Country League match at Leigh Sports Village on Saturday staging five races with four first team awards.

The team’s first win of the day came in the girls under-11s race over 1.5 miles; Melissa Ince made light of a very muddy course and raced around in a time of 8:13 – her first win in the league.

She led the team of Elizabeth Sharrock (fifth) 8:44 and Grace Craddock (sixth) 8:48 to a hard fought first team place.

They were well supported by Megan Short (seventh) 8:57, Olivia Galvin (11th) 9:12, Chloe Abbott (17th) 9:33, Victoria Bond (18th) 9:41 and Cara Scofield (21st) 9:52.

Meanwhile in the u11s boys race over the same miles Zak Galvin had his best result in the league winning third place in a time of 8:56, with Dan Senior also running well for sixth 9:12.

In deteriorating conditions with persistent rain making the going tough underfoot the boys U15 team were on top form on the two mile course.

Kristian Wade stormed round the course in a time of 12:12 and was an impressive winner, closely followed by Joseph Senior in second place 12:18, Joseph Wane (sixth) 12:35 giving the team an impressive win; supporting the team well Ben McLaughlin in (seventh) 12:47, Elliot Livingston (ninth) 13:43, Lucas White (11th) 13:45, Nathan Myers (12th) 13:46 and Dillon Elsby (15th) 15:58.

Not to be outdone Leigh’s u15s girls’ team also made a clean sweep of the prizes winning both team and individual awards.

Keely Hodgkinson after a difficult six months got back into winning ways racing to an impressive top sport over the two mile course clocking 13:42, Eve Williams raced hard for runners-up spot 13:50, Joanna Smith was fifth place 15:08 and Emma McIntyre (eighth )15:50 making sure of the first team award.

Leigh’s fourth first team award was won by the u13s Girls team.

Faye Bayman produced her best run of the cross country season to take second place in a time of 10:07.

Rebecca Pollitt continued her good form of the season to finish fifth in 10:57 closely followed by the fast improving Katie Morley (seventh) 11:05 to give the team their fourth team win of the day.

There were also good supporting runs from Megan Ridge (ninth) 11:35, Nadine Smith (10th) 11:36, Louise Appleton (12th) 11:53, Jessica Barlow (13th) 11:55, Anabelle Sharrock (14th) 12:01.

The u13 boys’ team packed well in a close team race, Josef Short (third) in 9:20, Coel Mellor (fourth) 9:47 and Shea Mellor 9:53 just missing the team award by three points.

There were also some good runs from Joel Denton (ninth) 10:07, Joshua White (10th) 10:20 and Owen Reason (11th) 11:34.

Olivia Stones ran in the 5k under 17 ladies race and recorded her first win in the league in a time of 22:57.

Jacob Briscoe also had a good run in the U17 men’s race over a two-lap 5k course crossing in third place in a time of 18:32.

Courtney Donald was involved in the senior men's team and was led the Harriers home in 20th place (29:30) while Rachel Hodgkinson was fourth (second u20s lady) in 34:02 and Brenda Wane (fifth over-50s lady) 34:04.

Despite a heavy fall on her first lap Marjorie Leigh won the over-65s ladies race 34:57 whilst the team were the second over-45s ladies side.

Dianne Denny was Leighs’ final team counter 38:59.

Meanwhile, the senior men’s team were heavily reliant on just seven athletes who were up to represent the club on home soil with the core of the team missing again, nevertheless the team led by Dave Smith won second team place.

Smith ran strongly to finish in second place (34:04), Callum McCormick in only his second race of the season after a spell out with injury was fourth and overall was third u20s man in the race 34:38.

Alex Urmston was next harrier home in 19th place (38:20) and Martin Conroy was third over-45s runner (38:53).

John Indricks (33rd), Andy Smalley (48th) and Andy Howarth (10th over-45s) made up the Harriers contingent.