DAVE Fulford led the way for Hoad Hill Harriers when a strong contingent of club members competed in the latest round of the Mid-Lancs Cross-Country at Sefton Park in Liverpool.

A total of 622 runners competed in the senior men’s race, completing three laps of the course for a total distance of six miles, in which conditions were idea for fast racing with very little mud.

Fulford was the first Hoad Hill runner home, with his time of 33mins 12sec seeing him just over five minutes behind winner Ross Millington (Stockport Harriers) in 158th overall.

V40 category runners Mark Bonner and Mark Tomkinson were next across the line for Hoad Hill, clocking 35.05 and 36.21 respectively.

Jeff Chadwick (V50) cracked the 40-minute mark as well with a time of 37.51, followed by Gary Dover (V50 40.40), Mark Lehrle (V40 40.53) and Luke Turner 41.19).

The other Hoad Hill men to finish were Nigel Storey (V50 41.43), Keith Conway (V40 42.01), Damian Jones (V50 42.39), Graham Pinder (V60 43.04), Pat Thomas (V60 43.16), Alan Wilson (V50 43.21), Adrian Newnham (V60 46.10), Eric Hampton (V40 46.56), Simon Barton (V60 49:16) and Tony Clarke (V60 54.12).

Stephanie Gillies (V45) was the first to finish for Hoad Hill in the senior ladies race, completing their five-mile course in 38 minutes exactly.

Alison Cooke (V50) was just 28 seconds behind her, with both making the top 200 of 311 runners, and Stevie Barron was next with her 40.17 clocking.

Leanne Bayliff (V35 42.23), Sally Barton (V55 46.02), Penny Moreton (V55 48.20), Stephanie Roberts (V35 50.45) and Julie Newnham (V55 50.52) were the other Hoad Hill senior ladies who were competing.