Coop back to winning ways at Knowl Hill

Organised by Rochdale Harriers as part of their three-day race series, the tough course takes competitors over a six-mile route over the fell to the North of Ashworth Valley.

Coop strode away from the field, covering the course in 43mins 26secs and finishing more than four minutes clear of the runner-up.

The previous day, Katie Geelan had competed in the Naden Valley Multi-Terrain race – again a six-mile course – and took an excellent third place in the women’s race with a time of 49:43.

Saturday saw a number of Bury’s younger members competing in the Greater Manchester Schools Athletics Championships held at Stretford and they came away with several gold medals.

Hattie Vaughan won the senior girls' long jump with a 4.94m jump, while Brandon Quinton won the intermediate boys' 3,000m, ducking under nine minutes for the second time in his career with 8:59.50.

In third was club-mate Oliver Donnelly in 9:23.58.

Natan Witkowski won the junior boys' 80m hurdles in 12.41, Jay Cook won the shot in that age category with 10.99 and in the junior girls' section, Abigail Howard won the 75m hurdles in 12.42.

Silver medals went to Erin Kenyon (intermediate girls' javelin – 21.50) and Reilly Carson (junior girls' javelin – 26.76).

Bronze medals were won by Heledd Rimmer (senior girls' javelin – 21.20), Daisy Worthington (intermediate girls' long jump – 4.75) and Connie Potts (junior girls' hammer – 21.39).

Other local results: Charlotte Speakman-Farnworth (fourth in the inter 800m – 2:30.18), Charlotte Russell (fourth in the inters high jump 1.40), Scarlett Hamilton (sixth in the junior 800m – 2:35.13), Freya Potts (eighth in the junior 1500m – 5:08.75); Jena Dickinson (fourth in junior shot – 8.78), Rashaun Currie (fourth in his senior 100m heat – 11.92), Grace Gibson (third in her junior girls' 300m heat – 45.4).

Meanwhile, Katie Buckley made a welcome return to competition in the North West winning the Edgworth Reservoir 10k Challenge in 40:20.