AFTER hail, rain and a morning of school championships Witton Park, Blackburn, was one of the muddiest courses experienced in many years.

The day began for Kendal AAC runners with the U11 girls when nine-year-old Tilly Webster in only her second race to date finished strongly in 33rd .

For U11 Cole Blakie it was a first-place repeat performance.Shadowed by Dean Tierney of Preston Harriers, Cole kept his head to ege a four-second win..

Sprinter Alex Birkett in his first cross-country should be pleased with his 30th place, while.Eric Kimani continues to improve with each race and was 38th.

U13 Erin Procter enjoyed the tough course putting in a fine finish 32nd.

Having raced earlier in the schools championships, Milly Morgan-Mythan's aim was to finish in the top 50 which she did.

U13 Robbie Sproul’s Mid-Lancs debut for Kendal resulted in a wel-earned 25th.

Chloe Holhead ran more confidently as she starts to return to form and was 23rd .

The U15 boys race was a battle between Jamaine Coleman of Preston Harriers,who posted the fastest time in the previous week’s national cross-country relays and Liverpool's Owen Sharpe.

Therefore after a night’s racing at the velodrome, Manchester James Knox did extremely well to finish third.

After an 18-month break following a serious injury, Eilith Sproul ran a sensible race to be a promising 13th.

Next came an exciting battle between Border Harriers Alistair Weymouth 19.26, who came in three seconds ahead of Hatti Dean in the combined U17 men and senior women's race and Kendal's Luke Ingham, second in 19.36.

Having lost a few strides on the final hill, Luke is looking forward to a rematch at Liverpool.

Tom Hartley's hard work is now beginning to pay off as he finished the tough course 29th.

Although Kendal's top women were not available it was a good day for Jane Quine, who finished 33rd and second vet 45 in a field of 109, while Dianne Priestley was 43rd and 2nd vet 55, closely followed by Martina Pyne 46th, Kath Winrow 58th and Jackie Wain 64th It meant Kendal were Vet 45 team winners for the second time.

Pete Acland finished160th, Steve Turner166th, John Quine 225th and Dave Wright 249th.