EMILY Purdy and Sam Smyth were Bury AC’s two representatives at the British Athletics Cross Country Challenge held at Liverpool’s Sefton Park on Saturday.

Racing in the under-15 girls’ race against the best in the country, Emily ran superbly to take seventh place in a time of 10mins 56secs. This demonstrates her talent and commitment to training as she further strengthens her reputation as one of the best distance runners in the country.

Sam, albeit an u17, took the courageous decision to test himself in the u20s’ race. He took 98th place in a high-quality field, but his time of 23:51 underlines the improvements he is making.

A group of three Bury athletes travelled to Wilmslow on Sunday to compete in a 10k race.

Luke Harreld was the first local home and was delighted to set a new personal best of 33:35 for the distance, his first sub-34 clocking, that gave him 43rd place.

Next was Curtis Simpson, who also set a new personal-best time of 37:42 in 173rd place. Brian Thomas made it three out of three for PBs, finishing in 41:39 and taking 16th position in the V50 category.

At Saturday’s parkrun at Heaton Park, Jack Griffiths notched his first number-one place in the event, crossing the line in 17:40.

Paul Johnston took third in 18:04, with Declan Tattersall placing ninth in his debut over the course, setting a time of 18:59. Rachel Marshall was first women’s finisher, in a new best of 19:27.

Nicola Ryan took second, also setting a new PB of 20:03 and making it a 1-2-3 for Bury, Sarah Thomas was third in 20:35

Harriet Griffiths took fifth place in a new best of 21:22 and edging away from her father, John, who crossed the line in 21:43. Lewis Whittaker was Bury’s other finisher, taking 20th in 20:28.

Next weekend is the fourth and final Red Rose Cross Country League match up in the testing course at Marl Pitts in Rossendale. This will see a number of Bury athletes and teams confirmed as league champions.