BURY Athletic Club had another outstanding day in the Red Rose Cross Country League, tackling a very muddy and hilly Leverhulme Park course.

The highlight of the day was a one-two in the under-13s boys' race, which Ben Forrest won by 10 seconds from Francis Woodcock.

They were denied victory in the team competition by just one point following good runs by Oliver Donnelly (16th) Jack Knowles (17), Mikey Hodgkinson (35), Patrick Clarke (36) and Brandon Wilson (43).

Marcus Dey once again dominated proceedings in the u15s boys' race, easing to victory by 16 seconds and securing the overall league title with his third consecutive first place.

George Yates again ran strongly to take seventh place, while the team finished second after Sam Brooks came home in 14th, followed by Patrick Watson (17), Curtis Johnstone (21), Liam Hanson (29) and Jack Smith (30).

Sophie Whittaker matched Dey with a third consecutive victory in the u17s girls' race and the team also secured second place following strong performances from Lauren Booth in fourth, Eleanor Boyle (9), Elizabeth Howard (15), Jennifer Smalley (16), Melanie Howarth (17) and Emily Moran (19).

Bury went one better to win the senior women's race, holding off Darwen Dashers by three points.

Katie Geelan led the side home, finishing sixth (third vet), and just holding off team-mate Donna Cartwright, who was eighth and fourth vet. Mel Monks came home in 15th while Siobhan Guy completed the counters in 46th.

Other finishers were Alana Grundy (34th - fourth u20), Elizabeth Cheshire (39), Nicola Harland (42), Jess Symons (62), Sophie Sasimowicz (73) and Lisa Carter (116).

Bury's senior men produced their best performance of the season to take second place in the team event, only 14 points behind the winners.

Ben Coop was top scorer after finishing 16th. He was followed by Tim Ardin (17th and second vet), David Cullen (21), Benn Heywood (28th and third junior), Luke Harreld (32), Paul Thompson (44), Byron Edwards (76), Stuart Hodgkinson (79), Les Smalley (94), Rob Granby (96th and tenth junior), Duncan Forrest (152), Mark Johnson (164), David Carroll (187), Colin Smith (193), Nigel Brady (215), Pete Berry (230) and Michael Howarth (234).

Ardin, Thompson, Edwards and Hodgkinson combined for an excellent third place in the vets team race.

The u15s girls also turned in their best result of the season to finish sixth overall.

Lucy Alcock had an outstanding run to take sixth place, followed by Talullah Cullen (eighth), Melissa Thompson (17), Jenna Allen-Cartwright (24), Teegan Brady (25), Colleen Langan (27) and Millie Hughes (28).

Bury's u11s boys were much improved on previous races, taking fourth in the team race.

A strong run from Jack Andrews led the team home in 13th place, followed by Jerel Livingston (15), Gilbert Vaughan (20), Sam Knowles (34), Harry Yates (41), Sebastian Fletcher (43), Noah Carter (46), Joshua Frost (50), Jay Cook (54), Toby Lythgoe (63), Ben Grace (64), Freddie Worthington (67), Finn Gracey (69), Cian Donnelly (73), Tomas Wilson (79), Oliver Rostron (81), George Clarke (82) and Max Lythgoe (86).

The u11s girls also showed good improvement, with Freya Potts taking eighth place as the team came home in fifth.

Katherine Waters finished 25th, Erin Garroch (26), Millie Yates (32), Lucy Pixton (42), Abigail Howard (47), Alice Lawson (48), Emily McSharry (54), Ella Hall (64), Esther McGrath (72), Madeleine Weston (74), Holly Crow (75), Nicole Palmer (82), Millie Townsend (85), Yasmin Ilyas (87), Ruby Reynalds (91), Harriet Bower (92), Isobelle Berry (94), Olivia Benjamin (96) and Leonie Appleby (97).

Daisy Worthington ran strongly to take seventh place in the u13s girls' race, but with several athletes struggling with illness the team had to settle for fifth.

Ellie Carter finished 18th, Charlotte Farnworth (21), Rebecca Froggatt (22), Harriet Vaughan (24), Hannah Olland (28), Heledd Rimmer (43), Katherine Townsend (44), Layla Hunt (46), Darcy Tanner (47) and Ella Tyrell (53).

Harry Stainton led the u17s boys home in ninth to help them take third place in the team race. The next three came home together with Harry Anderton, Iestyn Rimmer and Patrick Hanson taking 17th, 18th and 19th respectively.

The final Red Rose fixture of the season takes place at Marl Pits a week on Saturday.