THERE was another record entry for the Saucony English Cross Country Relays at Berry Hill Park with 1273 teams and a total of over 4000 runners competing in 10 races.

Competition was at the highest level and Leigh Harriers under 13 girls team running in the 3 x 2km relay all ran well; the team of Melissa Ince 7:58.7, Lily Edwards 8:41.1 and Megan Short 8:16.60 finished in 27th place out of well over one hundred teams. Leigh’s U17 Ladies team were lead off on the first leg of 2.5 km by Keely Hodgkinson who ran a storming first leg crossing the line with the day’s second fastest time of 8:39.

Ciara Treanor running in her first national relay ran the second leg in 12:08, handing over to Eve Williams who brought the team home in 36th place with a time of 10:28.8.

In the Junior Women’s race over 3 x 2.5 km Olivia Stones ran a very competitive first leg winning 15th place in a time of 9:12.3; Eleanor Bond ran the second leg in a time of 11:45.9 for 35th place with the final team position being a commendable 19th position. In the senior women’s race over 3 x 3 km legs against 129 teams, Laura Riches lead the team off on the first leg running well finishing in 10:25 in 17th place.

Abigail Howarth ran a well judged second leg improving the team place to 12th in a time of 10:36; Leah Peploe coming back from injury ran the third leg for the team in a time of 12:56.8 to give the team a final position of 24th.

The senior men’s team were up against over 200 teams on the 4 x 5 km legs. Callum McCormick ran the first leg for the team in 18:03 finishing in 91st place; Will Rawson in his first national relay ran outstandingly in a time of 17:09.45 moving the team into 57th place.

Dave Smith improved the team place running a time of 17:28.5 on the third leg moving to 49th place with Rob Thorpe running the 4th leg to give the team a final position of 46th place. Leigh’s B team were also in good form winning 88th place in the relay; Tommy Henders 18:42 on the first leg, Phil Williams 18:03 on the second leg, Allister Goulding 19:45 on the third leg and John Howarth 20:52 on fourth leg giving the team a final position of 88th place beating over one hundred teams.

The Under 15 Girls had 2 teams in the 3 x 2 km race with over 120 teams on the start line. The A team of Katie Morley 8:41, Olivia Anderson 8:46 and Rebecca Pollitt 8:18 finished in 76th place; the B team of Jessica Barlow 8:44, Megan Ridge 9:18, Emma McIntyre 9:34 gave a final team place of 95th

The boys U15 with over 120 teams competing over a 3 x 2 km the team of Josef Short 7:30, Joel Denton 7:56 and Owen Reason 8:04 brought the team home in 88th position.