ATHLETICS: Bury AC runners braved wind, rain and hail to post good results in the first Red Rose Cross Country League fixture of the season at Witton Park, Blackburn.

The Under-11s boys got them off to a good start, finishing fifth in the team event and setting the scene for some impressive individual and team performances.

Two of the outstanding runs came in the U15s races. Nathan Milligan finished fourth in the boys’ event, in which the top two places were taken by medallists from last season’s national championships, and Katie Buckley ran an excellent third to lead the girls to second in the team event in which Caitlin Cole typified the determination of a strong age group by recovering after losing a shoe to finish 16th.

Ben Coop was never out of the first three in the U17s event and was only edged into third on the final lap.

The next Red Rose fixture will be at Chesham Playing Fields on Saturday, November 7.

Results U11 Boys: Fifth team — Sam Brooks (9th), Laurie Milligan (20th), Jake Richardson (33rd). Other finishers: Oliver Simpson (34th), Joseph Klusiatis (36th), Mikey Kingstone (40th), and Chris Pimm (47th).

U11 Girls: Sixth team — Fiona Gilmour (26th), Tillulah Cullan (35th), Ellie Gaunt (43rd) and Alice Presley (50th).

U13 Boys: Ben Heywood (9th).

U13 Girls: Second team — Christie Cook (3rd), Hannah Alderson (6th), Eleanor Boyle (15th) and Jenny Smalley (17th).

U15 Boys: Third team — Nathan Milligan (4th), Jack Brown (15th), Jack Williams (18th) and Nicky Brisbane (26th).

U15 Girls: Second team — Katie Buckley finished fourth, Alana Grundy 10th, Natasha Hodgson 13th, Caitlin Healey 14th, Caitlin Cole 16th and Katrina Conroy 28th.

U17 Men: Ben Coop (3rd), Andrew Brisbane (19th).

U20 Women: Second team — Grace Conroy (5th), Jenny Gibson (7th) and Alix McDermott (9th).

Senior Women: Ninth team — Grace Conroy (48th, 5th U20), Jenny Gibson (63rd, 7th junior), Caroline Boyle (64th), Alix McDermott (70th, 9th junior).

Senior Men: Ninth team — Pete Bates (33rd), Andy Milligan (63rd), Les Smalley (75th), Dave McConville (94th), Kev McDermott (135th) and David Flood (137th) and David Grundy (138th).

lThree teams flew the flag for Bury at the Young Athletes Road Race Relay Championships at Leeds Carnegie University.

Christie Cook, Eleanor Boyle, and Hannah Alderson finished 16th out of 41 teams in the Girls U13s; the U15s trio of Alarana Grundy, Caitlin Healey and Caitlin Cole finished 28th of 40; and Nathan Milligan, Jack Brown and Jack Williams ran 18th in the Boys U15s.