A RAIN-soaked Sherdley Park greeted the 900 competitors for the second Manchester and District Cross-country League match of the winter hosted by St Helens Sutton A.C.

The first race was for the Under 11 years girl over 2.2km, Hollies Brussels ran 11 min 05 secs to finish 27th and Eizabeth Greenall 12 min 18 secs for 35th.

In the Boys' race, the club’s leading trio of Ben Toole, Matthew Roberts and Dylan O’Brien, ran together to finish in 19th, 20th and 21st places with times of 10 min 08 secs, 09 secs and 12 secs, backing them up were Oliver Lloyd and Matthew Dodd who ran 11 min 25 secs, and 11 min 40 secs, the team finishing 5th.

The club turned out two teams in the U13 years. Girls ran the same course, with the A team of Ellie Doyle (36th, 10 min 30 secs), Alyx Bridge (38th, and Ashley Sprott (39th) finishing in 10th place.

The Boys team ran 3.1km with Michael Brussels finishing 40th (13 min 58 secs), Matthew Slevin, 32nd and Liam Houghton 34th and Nathan Worrall 36th and James Carbery 42nd.

The club also had two teams in the U15 years. Girls event over 3.1km led by Samantha Price in 23rd with 14 min 55secs.

The U15 years Boys had the club’s highest team placing of 6th with Anthony Walker finishing the 5.2km course in 18 min 40 secs for 23rd, Ben Oldham taking (26th) and Jack Worrall (32nd). Olivia Harwood-Moss ran the same course in the U17 years ladies race in 22 min 47 secs finishing 26th.

Jonathan Causer ran in the U17 years men's over 6.2km finishing 18th in 18 min 11 secs. All the ladies over 17 years ran the 6.2km course. Rachel and Maria McGoldrick ran 35 min 39 secs. and 37 min 21 secs to finish 7th and 9th in their classification.

Gemma Connolly had her usual fine run to be the club’s fastest lady and third in her class with her time of 32 min 33 secs.

As usual, the senior men ran the longest course, 9.3 testing kms, Tom Griffiths was was the club’s fastest running 34 min 56 secs for 24th in a field of nearly 400 runners.

New member Steve Anders led the support with his 37 min.57 secs. run (84 th), followed by John Greenall (38 min.37 secs.), Andrew Wilson (39 min.08 secs.), Ian Costello (40 min.00 secs.), Mark Liptrot (42 min.23 secs.), Ian Hayburn (42 min.48 secs.), Greg Carns (43 min.13 secs.), Chris Read (44 min.13 secs.), Peter Johnson (45 min.37 secs.) and Ray Vose (46 min.48 secs.). The veterans team finished 11th and the senior team 37th).