A NUMBER of up-and-coming Leigh Harriers stars competed in the final Mid-Lancashire Cross Country League match at Beacon Park in Skelmersdale on Saturday.

In the girls’ under 11s race over 2,000m, 10-year-old Keely Hodgkinson made it 16 runs undefeated with her 45-second win clocked at 7mins 37secs.

Much improved Joanna Smith was 10th in 9mins 2secs.

In the boys’ under 11s race, Ben McLaughlin was in pole position with less than 300m to go but was directed off the course, losing two positions and finishing in third place in 7mins 32secs. That cost him the overall boys’ title.

Kyle Jones, who will still be an under 11s runner next year, finished fourth in 7mins 33secs.

Billy Blain came 12th place in 8mins 15secs.

In the under 13s boys’ 3,000m race, Joseph Wane and Kristian Wade put in promising performances.

Wane was 14th in 12mins 31secs and Wade 18th in 12mins 41secs.

A poor turnout by Harriers in the second Central Lancashire Grand Prix Road Race at Bolton on Sunday has ended the chances of Leigh defending the women’s and men’s overall and team titles.

Tony Battersby finished fifth in 28mins 45secs, while Alex Urmston was 21st in 30mins 50secs.

Angela Allen came second in 23mins 31secs, handing her first place in the over 45s women’s category.