THE Greater Manchester Team selectors have been busy picking Bury athletes for the forthcoming Inter Counties and English Schools Cross Country Championships.

Following on from the Greater Manchester County Championships at a muddy Boggart Hole Clough course on January 3, Ben Forrest and Francis Woodcock have been selected for the Under-13 county team, while Sophie Whittaker will represent Greater Manchester in the u17 team.

For the u20s, Benn Heywood has been selected for the men’s team and Christie Cook for the ladies. Katie Buckley, coming back from injury, will run in the Senior Ladies team. The Inter Counties will take place in Birmingham on March 7 and will be broadcast on Sky TV.

The Greater Manchester Schools Cross Country Championships were held on the hilly Woodbank Park course in Stockport earlier this month. There were some superb performances from Bury AC athletes. In the Minor Boys event Francis Woodcock ran impressively to come second and secure a place in the Greater Manchester team. Oliver Donnelly performed creditably to finish 23rd in the same race. In the Minor Girls race Daisy Worthington, Charlotte Farnworth and Grace Goodsell finished 17th, 23rd and 53rd respectively.

The performance of the day came from Ben Forrest in the Junior Boys race. In the usual opening sprint at the start Ben was tripped, fell to the ground and received a three inch gash across his stomach from a fellow athlete’s spikes. Ben is made of stern stuff and got back up and finished an excellent fourth place, behind the winner Marcus Day, also a Bury AC runner but representing his home town of Oldham.

George Yates claimed sixth place scoring valuable points to secure the bronze medal for Bury in the team race and also taking a place in the GM team. Forrest, who has another year in this age group, is looking forward to the English Schools race.

Bury AC athletes Lucy Allcock (17th), Talullah Cullen (25th), Ellie Carter (37th), Harriet Vaughan (54th) and Helledd Rimmer (69th) performed well and took fifth place for Bury in the very competitive team event.

Sophie Whittaker consolidated her excellent season over the country with a strong fifth place in the Intermediate Girls event. Sophie has also made the GM Team for the English Schools Championships which take place on March 14 at Witton Park in Blackburn.

In the Senior Boys’ race, Benn Heywood (13th), Harry Stainton (16th) and Rob Granby (18th) packed well to win the bronze medal. Eleanor Boyle (ninth) and Liz Howard (12th) ran well in the Senior Girls race and are on the reserve list for the English Schools.

Away from the mud and hills of the cross country two young Bury athletes have been selected for the Greater Manchester in the Northwest Sportshall finals. Daisy Worthington and Grace Goodsell have competed well indoors this season and can be proud of their selection. In the boys event Patrick Clarke and James Coghlan have also performed well this season and they await the selectors final decision!

The Bury Club hosted a more unusual event at the Market Street track last Sunday.

Hayley Palfreyman, mum of club member Ewan, is raising money for the Key 103 Cash for Kids charity.

To assist her fundraising Bury AC held an hour -ong continuous relay using a replica of the Manchester Commonwealth Games baton.

Athletes young and old, together with a number of parents, took part and completed 39 laps of the 400 metre track.

The star young performer was Ellie Carter, producing a very nippy 77 second lap.

Rob Granby whistled the baton round for the seniors in 55 seconds with £80 raised to help the charity.