GOLDEN girl Hannah Warburton collected a national title in the premier cross country event of the season on Saturday.

Running for Greater Manchester U13s' squad in the Inter Counties Championships at Nottingham the 11-years-old Leigh Harriers' star played an important role in helping the county squad to their first team victory in 10 years.

Running as a first year, Hannah was fourth team counter, finishing in 40th place in a field of over 300 of the country's best runners.

Last time the girls took gold, Harrier Joanne Woodward was a team counter.

Thomas Boardman just missed team silver in the U17s' event finishing in 71st and finishing fifth counter out of a field of 250 runners.

Adele Swanton, last out of the pen, found great difficulty trying to pull back the field of 300 runners in the U17 girls' race and had to settle for a disappointing 124th.

Double cross country league champion Gemma Farley also had a rough day crossing the line 202nd in the girls' U15 run when a top 30 spot would have been her target.

Leigh Harriers shone at the South East Lancs Cross Country presentation at Horwich, collecting 12 individual and three team awards.

Both awards

In the U15 age group Leigh took both male and female awards, Mike Goddard lifting the Whatmough Cup and Gemma Farley the Proudley Shield, followed by Rebecca Howarth in third individual place.

Emma Morris, Louise Boardman and Kellie Howarth lifted the team award, the Margaret Galvin Trophy.

Lauren Howarth and Hannah Warburton were second and third in the U13s' section while in the boys' 11-years-old Isaac McCann was sixth.

The Ladies U17s squad, who have dominated the local leagues for the past four years, were easy winners of the BA Lostock Trophy.

Adele Swanton was overall runner-up, Lizzie Heaton third, Amanda Fearnley fourth and Emma Touge seventh, adding this award to the North West Women's League title they won earlier in the season, and taking double honours for the second year in succession.

Sam Cooke was third in the U17s men's group along with team silver, which also went to Alex Urmston, Tom Boardman and Andy Edwards.

John Howarth was overall third in the senior men's section and Dave Helps third in the O50s. Marjorie Leigh also finished third in the O50 ladies' group.