IMPROVEMENTS across the board for Rochdale Harriers junior cross country runners was the order of the day at Chesham Park in Bury, despite appalling weather conditions last week

Charlotte Bowker recorded a creditable 18th position in the under 13 girls with a time of 12 minutes 14 seconds, closely followed by Naomi Richardson (27th) in 12 mins 37 secs, and Natasha Banjacs (28th) in 12 mins 39 secs.

Leon Hollinrake followed up his debut in Blackburn with another gutsy run, to finish 33rd in the under 13 boys, in 12 mins 09 secs.

Jack Walsh was the in form under 15 boy, recording a time of 15mins 50 secs, to finish in 24th position, followed by Tom Kramer, who, despite a fall in the treacherous conditions, hung on to 26th position, recording a time of 17mins 21 secs

Over to the seniors, and Carly Needham’s performance showed that she is recovering well following an extended period of injury. She posted 23 min 19 sec to take second place in the ladies race. This was 1 min 41 sec behind fellow international runner Katie Ingram from Horwich. Last year a fully fit Carly beat Katie by 62 seconds on this course.

Rochdale’s second lady finisher was in-form Anna Blomfield. Only two weeks after being first British runner in an Austrian mountain marathon, Anna had enough left in her legs to comfortably secure the position of Rochdale’s second counter in 26 min 31 sec.

Josefa Terim would have made third Rochdale lady but she pulled out mid-race, leaving Jan Needham to take the honours in 29 min 55 sec. In the lady veterans race Joanne Walsh was delighted to make counter for the first time.

This helped the ladies veteran team secure seventh position.

The male counters in this event changed considerably since the same race last season. Only two of last year’s counters featured this year, namely Ian Roberts and Chris Leach.

New blood in the form of Jon Lane, Chris Hill and Chris Mullen added some youth and freshness to the squad.

The competitors likened the mud under foot to running through treacle.

For most of the race Roberts and Leach were neck-and-neck.

At four and a half laps the men’s course felt like it was one too many. Roberts showed the better endurance on the day to finish 49 seconds ahead of Leach in 42 min 47 sec.

Next was Lane (44:33), Ray Dalby (44:46), Hill (46:00) and the sixth counter was Mullen (46:49).

Several Rochdale Harriers competed in Monday’s Dublin Marathon. First home was John Purdy in 3 hr 39 min 14 sec.

Ladies coach Kirstin Johnson comfortably achieved her dream of a sub-4 hour marathon by clocking 3hr 52 min 19 sec. Kay Hill and Chris Deasey, facing their first marathon, ran the entire 26.2 miles together.

They were delighted to cross the finish line in approximately 4 hr 09 min.