JACKY Thorn starts next month’s final round of the Manchester Area Cross Country League season as leader in her age class.

The Vale Royal Athletics Club runner placed second in the women’s over 50s category at Boggart Hole Clough on Saturday, leaving her first in the standings after four races.

She led the club’s senor women to eighth overall, a position secured by top 50 finishes for newcomer Sophia Rees, Joanne Edwards and Mary Tavener.

For the men, John Thompson’s fifth-place in the over 45s race was a season best performance as was Tony Archer’s third position in the men’s over 55s.

He occupies the same rung on the series ladder to date too.

Vale Royal were represented in Blackley by a handful of juniors too, Charlie Fawkes (under 11s boys), John Humphries (under 13s boys) and Lucy Scott (under 17s girls) recording season-best finishes, the latter fifth in class.

The club’s under 11s boys team, fifth on the day, is in third position overall.

Woodbank Park, in Stockport, hosts the final round next month.

A full list of results for Vale Royal AC runners appears in Wednesday's print edition.