SOPHIE Whittaker was Bury Athletic Club's star performer in the final race of this year's Red Rose Cross Country League season at Marl Pitts in Rossendale.

She was fourth overall in the senior women’s race and first under-20s finisher to take the individual league title, while also inspiring Bury to overall titles in both the women's senior and u20s events.

Whittaker's efforts were backed up by a fantastic run from Christie Cook, who finished 10th in the seniors' race and fifth in the u20s, and Lauren Booth, who was 20th overall and sixth in the u20s.

Katie Geelan was the final counter in the senior race, coming home in 23rd place, which was enough for her to finish as first V40 athlete.

Jenny Yates had a strong run in 34th place and was second V50 athlete overall, with the veterans' team finishing runners-up.

Marcus Dey returned to winning ways for the u17s men but had to work hard to hold off fellow triathlete Oliver Makinson.

Their performances were enough to secure them second and third places in the overall league reckoning.

Alexander Bennett was 11th, which helped Bury win the u17s team title.

Lucy Alcock was Bury’s only competitor in the u17s women’s race, taking a creditable fifth place.

In the senior men’s race, Ben Coop produced his best finish of the season in fourth, which secured him fourth place overall in the league.

Benn Heywood was next Bury finisher in 19th, followed by Giles Bennett (64th), Matt Grice (72nd), Byron Edwards (73rd) and Chris Mackay (74th) to bring the team home in fifth.

The u15s boys ran well to take second team place in the league.

Brandon Wilson showed the great potential he has by finishing third, with the ever-improving Stefan Kalambouka in seventh and Oliver Donnelly the final scorer in 17th place.

The u15s girls took third team place in the league, with Daisy Worthington leading them home in fifth place, supported by Heledd Rimmer (16th) and Ellie Carter (22nd).

The u13s boys were fourth in the league following great runs on the day from Jacob Allen (10th), Gilbert Vaughan (19th) and Jay Cook (29th).

The u13s girls, for whom Freya Potts finished sixth, Erin Kenyon 14th and Grace Gibson 26th, had to settle for fifth team place.

Reilly Carson (fourth), Katie Raynor (11th) and Millie Yates (17th) ensured the u11s girls finished runners-up on the day and third team overall, just missing out on second spot by two points.

The u11s boys had to settle for fifth team place, but Noah Carter had an excellent series, with his sixth-place finish on the day enough to secure him fourth place in the league.

The other scoring athletes were Harry Yates (15th) and Oliver Horford (17th).

The league awards for individuals and team performances will be held on March 3 at the Horwich RMI social club.

Other Bury finishers on the day

Senior men: Andy Worthington (143rd), Iestyn Rimmer (150th), Dave Flood (175th) and Edward Hitchin (177th).

Senior women: Lizzie Cheshire (36th), Lizzie Howard (39th), Alison Dale (67th) and Pam Hitchin (76th).

U17s men: Jack Smith (14th).

U15s boys: Jacob Stevens (20th).

U15s girls: Charlotte Smith (27th).

U13s girls: Ella Hall (36th), Catherine Russell (39th), Rachel Alcock (47th), Abigail Howard (56th) and Holly Crow (57th).

U11s boys: Jay Baicho (18th), Adam Coxon (23th), Finlay Collins (29th), Joe Gould (46th), Cian Donnelly (49th), Jacob Baurley (53th), Dylan Harris (54th) and Sam Gould (61th).

U11s girls: Rosa Murphy (18th), Connie Potts (21th), Esther McGrath (32th), Summer Whitfield (44th), Lola Potts (48th), Nicole Palmer (49th), Fleau Carter (50th), Isabel Lawson (59th), Lily Crow (60th) and Georgia Nuttall (67th).