The final fixture of the Red Rose Cross Country League was held at Marl Pitts in Rossendale on Saturday, with several members of Bury Athletics Club involved.

It should have taken place in early December, but freezing weather caused its postponement and the arrival of the thaw only just made the revised fixture possible.

Nevertheless, the athletes had to endure very testing conditions on the hillside course.

The races also determined league placings for both individual athletes and teams, with the best three positions out of the four fixtures being used to calculate the final standings.

The under-11s were the first to compete and, as was expected, the boys’ race was dominated by Bury’s young superstar, Ethan Statham.

He simply ran away from the field, finishing 15 seconds clear of the runner-up, and in doing so he was clear winner of the overall league, winning all three of his outings.

Rocco Hunter was the other Bury finisher, taking 18th place.

Kathryn Wolstenholme took eighth place in the girls’ race, and with Myla Bryan in 12th and Isla Taylor 15th, the Bury team took an excellent second place on the day. The other Bury finishers were Mylah Collier (19th) and Sophie Straffon-Finch (32nd). The team took third place in the league.

The U13s races saw a third place for the Bury girls’ team. Lucy Dent was first home in fifth place, followed by Agatha Wragg (17th), Ella Straffon-Finch (24th) and Lydia Worsley (27th). The result gave Bury fifth place in the league.

Daniel Taylor ran well to take 10th in the boys’ race and Noah Hallworth took 17th.

Bury’s senior women retained the league title with a dominating performance. Sinead Taylor finished third in a sprint finish, with her performance giving her the individual league title. Abigail Warburton took sixth, followed by Caitlyn Johnston (seventh), Alia Braithwaite (eighth), Nicola Ryan (10th), Harriet Griffiths (11th) and Fiona Lynch (15th). Susan Wheeldon-Gorst took 32nd, with Afroditi Kalambouka in 34th.

The results gave Abigail Warburton third league place and Alia Braithwaite fourth, and first in the V35 category. Fiona Lynch was equal first in the V45 category.

The senior men took second team place behind the incredibly strong Rossendale team, the result giving the men second place in the league.

Jack Griffiths was first Bury finisher in 11th, followed by Declan Tattersall in 14th. Paul Marshall took 33rd, with fast-improving Matthew Finch in 47th. Pete Barrow was 54th with Alex Leach in 61st completing the six counting runners. Curtis Simpson was hot on Alex’s heels in 62nd.

The performances delighted endurance coach Dave Cole and team manager Ian Warrington.