Horwich Junior XC – Marl Pits, Rossendale.

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Horwich Junior XC – Marl Pits, Rossendale.


Marl Pitts Rossendale was the last in the Red Rose XC Series held on Saturday 7th Dec. Notorious for heavy mud and hard hills the Juniors put some inspiring runs in on this final race. The Series is of 4 races and it’s best of 3 that count.

The U11 Boys team managed 3rd place with Thomas Massey in first with a very strong 3rd place. Improving Thomas Flatters second
runner in 13th. Cian Healey 17th, Lucas Milliken 20th, Isaac Simmonite and Luke Brindle 22nd & 23rd respectively. Isaac Keating 32nd, Matthew Oldfield 36th, and Joshua Houghton in 53rd. This performance gave the lads a Series position of 2nd, the best the U11s have ever managed in this series.

The U11 girls performances were just as credible with a magnificent run by Ella Pendlebury in 7th one of her best positions of the year and Olivia Baker a brilliant 44th, again much improved since the beginning of the series. This gave the U11 girls a fabulous 3rd place in the series, again the best ever in the history of the club. Penny Townsend not running as she had already wrapped up the series win at Bolton.

Boys U13s consisted of Lewis Wilkes 12th and Kieran Kinealy 26th both having their best races of the series. Robert Seddon a strong 32nd and Daniel Rowe 41st again best of series.

Ellie Baker had the best sprint finish of the day giving her a great 26th place, giving her a series finish of 23rd. This is exceptional for a girl who has achieved massive gains up the field since the start of the series.

Our U15 Boys Adam Roper came in 19th and Robert Gibson came in at 28th both felt the hardship that goes with XC in competition.

Down to our Last Junior Nathan Townsend. Up to this point Nathan had a 0,1,2 in the series, today he had to win to claim the series in which this was his first year of U17’s. Up against strong Fell Runners Nathan just had to do his best and hope he could race his race. On the first lap spiked legs and tempers were flaring in order to gain positions. Finally just before the short steep hill climb on the second lap Nathan saw on opportunity on the 4.7km course to break free and take control. He emerged from muddy course with an emphatic win giving him the series Win. Reflecting on his race, his race demons were now behind him and is now looking forwards to challenging for the Mid Lancs series.