Top UK ranked for 2007 at the end of the day were:

M60 Gareth Jones (Oxford City AC) 17.44

M65 Steve James (Southport Waterloo AC) 18.48

M75 Gordon Booth (Longwood Harriers) 22.24

M80 Steve Charlton (Vets AC) 22.41 World Best

L40 Karen Hazlitt (Winchester & District AC) 16.53

L45 Fiona Matheson  (Falkirk Victoria Harriers)17.47

L60 Carol Wolstenholme (Hallamshire H) 19.27 World Best

In the Georgia Pacific 5K (incorporating the Warburtons Northern 5K Championships) the winner Gemechu Kidane (Birchfield Harriers) recorded  the fastest time in the UK this year (14.01), with second placed Tewodros Shiferaw (Birchfield Harriers) the second fastest time (14.04). Mark Miles (Belgrave Harriers) had a cracking race to finish third in a time of 14.21 leaving him ranked third in the UK this year. Sale’s Stuart Stokes was not far behind in fourth, winning the men’s Northern individual title. The race itself produced no fewer than six men’s times placing them in the top twenty UK best times for 2007. For the ladies Birchfield Harrier Cathy Mutwa’s winning time of 16.09 was again the fastest recorded in the UK this year. Alyson Dixon (Chester-Le-Street) had a fantastic race finishing just one second behind, winning the Northern 5K title, and she now lies second in the 2007 UK rankings. Indeed, five ladies are now in the top twenty rankings after the Horwich race.

Completing the Northern winners Chester-Le-Street were victorious in the ladies team category (Alyson Dixon, Angela Hunter and Melissa Turner), retaining the title they won in 2006. For the men Stockport Harriers came out on top with Steven Vernon, who had a great race finishing seventh, leading the way, with Andy Nixon and Jamie Loxam completing the winning trio.

From a local perspective one of the highlights of the day was the Horwich RMI Harrier ladies (Denise Wakefield, Nicole Kirkham and Lola Smal) winning bronze team medals in The Emerson Group British Masters 5K Road Running Championships (45 to 54 category). Lola, who celebrated her 74th birthday three days later, was understandably over the moon that she had played her part in a team effort that secured such a prestigious team award and thrilled to have won individual silver in the Over 70 category. Colin Rigby ran a great race, finishing eighth overall in a time of 15.50 and won a terrific bronze medal in the Over 35 category. Winning the Over 35 category, and runner-up in the race, was local athlete Paul Freary (Belgrave Harriers) in a time of 15.25. There were 214 finishers in the Emerson Group BMAF 5K.

This year saw the inaugural BMAF 5K Road Walking Championships held at Horwich.

There were twenty-nine finishers (21 men and 8 ladies) with the oldest 81 year old Edwin Grocock completing the course in 37.37. First man was Mark Williams (M40,Tamworth AC) in 22.19. First lady was Lisa Kehler (L40, Wolverhampton & Bilston) in a time of 23.43.

In the Georgia Pacific Horwich Carnival 5k Race (incorportating both Warburtons Northern Championships and event 5 of the Sweatshop/Mizuno Horwich Tour) there were again some good performances from Horwich athletes. James Kevan had a great run to finish third Junior Man in a personal best time of 15.51. Steve Nolan was Horwich’s next finisher, winning the Over 45 category and securing the Over 45 title in the Tour. There were men’s category placings for Doug Fleming (third Over 45) and Pete Bland (third Over 55). Bolton United Harrier Anthony Valentine finished highest placed of the Tour runners, finishing twentieth in the race and secured third place in the overall Tour standings. For the ladies Janet Rashleigh had yet another great race after competing all week, winning the Over 45 race category and finishing in a superb overall runner’s up position in the Tour and first Over 45.  Christine Sweatman ran well to win the Over 50 category. There were 218 finishers in the Georgia Pacific 5K running race.

In the Bluemantle Horwich Carnival 1 Mile Fun Run fourteen year old Horwich RMI Harrier Jamie Crompton was the winner in a terrific time of 4.27, also securing victory in the three event U17s Fun Run Tour. Runner up in the Fun Run was team-mate April Stevenson, in another tremendous time (5.06), who also won the U17s Fun Run Tour title. Zachary Howe finished in a fine sixth. Next Harrier to finish was Katie Voce in fourteenth place, also finishing runner-up in the Fun Run tour and winning the U14 Tour category. Luke Massey finished thirtieth and won the U10 Tour title. Many fun runners were in fancy dress, including aptly dressed No.118 5 year old Fraser-Aubrey Williams and No. 208 Enid Jones from Westhoughton Lions JRLC who was appropriately dressed as a lion. Amongst others congratulations go to Blackrod County Primary School, winners of the Key Stage 2 Fun Run Schools Challenge Trophy awarded for the greatest level of participation from a local school. There were a terrific 168 finishers in the Fun Run.

The Craftprint Youths Cycle Races (U16s) were again a terrific success with over sixty riders in the different age categories. There was local success for the Gore sisters from Blackrod who both finished first in their age groups, Sophie in the U14’s and Clare in the U12’s. The Bolton Hot Wheels Go Ride obstacle relay again proved a great crowd pleaser with fifteen children taking part, aged between 8 and 12 years.

The Horwich Town Council British Cycling National Women’s Circuit Race Championships event saw an excellent turn out of forty-six riders. The best women riders from across the country put on a glittering display of fast and aggressive bike racing. A closely fought race over 25 miles was won by reigning Women’s Circuit Champion Lizzie Armitstead (Global Racing Team), in a time just over the hour. This was Lizzie’s second successive championship race victory and her Global team took the first three places in the race. 

The David Lloyd National Tricycle Championship race proved another spectacular sight, with Alan Shuttleworth of Altrincham RC coming out on top.

The Green Machine I Lap Cycle race for 5-18 year olds had fifty-nine entries, nearly three times the number of last year. It was great to see the young novices given the chance to race on the circuit and show such enthusiasm for the sport.

The final race of the day was the Don Burnett Car Sales Senior 2/3/4/ Junior cycle race, which had a record number of seventy-seven riders taking part. The race was won by Martin Freeman (Team Corley Cycles). Lancashire RC’s Nathan Harrison was the highest placed local rider finishing in third place after the 18 miles, with Gary Vose from Heapey, who rides for Lune RCC finishing ninth and Lancashire RC rider Tony Workman in tenth.