FRESH from his exploits on two wheels, finishing third juvenile at the National Hill Climb Championships, Francis Woodcock was the stand-out performer for Bury Athletic Club in the Red Rose Cross Country League.

The Woodhey High School pupil won the under-15s boys race at the challenging Astley Park course in Chorley last Saturday.

Woodcock proved the stronger out of a group of three athletes that broke clear of the field.

Jacob Stevens (30th) and Jake Allen (33rd) followed him home to help the club finish sixth in the team event.

The Bury trio of Oliver Makinson, Marcus Dey and Stefan Kalambouka won the the u17s team event after finishing second, third and eighth, respectively, to hold off a strong Rossendale team.

In the senior women’s race, Caitlin Cole was fifth and Christie Cook was close on her heels in seventh.

The Bury team consolidated their second place from the first fixture with good supporting runs from Lauren Booth, Nicola Harland, Sophie Hill and Lizzi Cheshire.

The senior men’s team was depleted through injury and absentees, but Patrick Babb made an excellent club debut, leading the team home in 40th place.

He was followed by Jack Griffiths (55th), Chris Mackay (78th), Giles Bennett (102nd), Matt Grice (137th) and Andy Worthington (161th) as the Bury team finished 11th.

Finley Collings (15th), Thomas Donnelly (17th) and Jake Norton (56th) brought Bury home in seventh place in the u11s race, while the girls' team of Lola Potts (25th), Emily Purdy (29th) and Isabel Lawson (34th) were 10th.

The u13s girls were also 10th, thanks to counting athletes Grace Gibson (24th), Reilly Carson (25th) and Katie Rayner (26th), who finished within three seconds of one another.

The u13s boys fared better, finishing fourth, with Noah Carter (12th), Oliver Horford (16th) and Matthew Lowe (19th) all placing well.

The u15s girls' team of Erin Kenyon (22nd), Lucy Pixton (28th) and Charlie Ireland (35th) took fifth place, and the u17s' women claimed an excellent third. Heledd Rimmer once again showed her strength on the tough courses, finishing 10th, and was followed by Lucy Alcock (11th), Ellie Carter (14th) and Jenna Allen-Cartwright (19th).

The third of the four-race series takes place next weekend in Bolton’s Leverhulme Park.