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Harriers boost overall standing

26/ 1/2008

SEVERAL weeks of seemingly unending rain made the cross country conditions very heavy at Boggart Hole Clough.

The course is a difficult one at the best of times, but the tree roots and mud made it particularly treacherous this year.

Rochdale under 13 team-mates Jack Walsh and Tom Kramer both ran well, finishing seventh and 16th overall.

After three races in the South East Lancashire series the lads are placed third and fifth respectively.

The ladies’ race saw marathon runner Anna Blomfield achieve first counter position for Rochdale Harriers.

An increase in off-road training gave Blomfield the edge on the painfully undulating course.

Another leap of form saw Linda Evans home as second counter, while Jan Needham was third.

The best battle of the day was between Chris Leach and John Cook in the senior men’s race.

There was hardly a yard between them for all three laps and it came down to a sprint for the line.

For most of the final 100 yards Leach was in front, but Cook nipped in by the thinnest of margins to take the first counter position.

The six counters for Rochdale, in finishing order, were John Cook, Chris Leach, Andy McDougal, Ian Stainthorpe, Owen Williams and Chris Mullen.

After three races in this league Andy McDougal is Rochdale’s highest placed at third overall.