IN awful wet and windy conditions on Saturday, St Helens Striders travelled to Wythenshawe Park for the fifth and final race in the Manchester Area Cross Country League.

First up was the ladies and Rachael Fishwick was first Strider home in 28:03.

Next in was Julie Pennington in 31:03, followed by Cherryl Orrick (33:38), Ruth Besford (35:35), Rebecca McKenna (35:50), Jo Jackson (36:25), Charley Ward (37:37), Anita Hall (38:55) and Vicky Kehoe (44:41).

The team placed 20th with the B team finishing 29th. The vets team came 17th and the vets B team 24th.

Over the longer men's course, Paul Demore was first home in 42:57, chased in by Gary Spriggs (44:08), John Smee (45:42), Brian Middleton (46:09), Les Abbott (46:49), Simon Poole (48:53), Dave Baxter (49:42), John Murphy (50:35), Tony Horsfall (51:57) and Gary Ward (54:27).

The men’s team placed 31st, with the vets A team coming 23rd and the B team 34th.

Three striders braved the conditions at the Mad Dog 10km race in Southport on Sunday.

Danny Fegan finished in 45:51, followed by Roger Haslett (47:01), Chris Falls (47:10) and David Baxter (48:21).

Chris Reid tackled the Nick Beer 10km in Llandudno, finishing in a new PB of 43:04.