KENDAL’S Danny Parkinson was just six seconds short of registering a win in Saturday’s Mid Lancs Cross Country League fixture at Crooklands on Saturday.

The 27-year-old nearly paced the race to perfection and was homing in on Southport Waterloo’s James Tartt (32-22) over the final stages. Parkinson (32-28) snatched second place from Border Harrier James Douglas (32-31) following an exciting sprint finish.

Tartt and Douglas had put in some devastating bursts early on to break away from Parkinson, who for the first two laps of the four-lap race ran shoulder-to-shoulder with Helm Hill’s Tom Addison (33-17).

Parkinson’s superior speed took him away from Addison and with his sights firmly set on the leading pair, he steadily hauled them in over the remaining two laps.

“I was trying to push Tom so that we could work together to catch the leading two guys,” said Parkinson, who is a warehouse manager at Dave Willan’s Frozen Foods at Oxenholme.

“It was my first Mid Lancs race for more than two years so I was really pleased with that.”

Southport Waterloo’s Amanda Crook (23-47) was a comfortable winner of the ladies’ race ahead of Preston’s Stephanie Rowe (24-25) and Helm Hill’s Melanie Hyder (24-57).

There were some strong performances from other South Lakeland athletes in the junior races.

Kendal’s Stephanie Driscoll (7-10) and Malisa Sproul (7-11) were third and fourth in the under 11 girls’ race which was won by Preston’s Jasmine Jolly (6-53). Helm Hill’s Mia Walsh (7-12) was a close fourth.

Fraser Spoul (6-38) was third in the boys’ under 11 race just two seconds behind Leigh’s Ben McLaughlin, who won the race in 6-36.

Kendal’s Cole Blaikie (11-18) was first under 13 boy home when he beat Preston’s Dean Tierney to the line by two seconds.

Helm Hill’s Imogen Burrow (10-39) was pipped to the line in the under 13 girls’ race, losing out by a second to Preston’s Charlotte Crook.

There was a sprint finish between the Preston Harrier pairing of Chris Durney and Fabrice Kisela in the under 15 event - Durney just edging it.

The under 15 girls’ race was won by Grace Handley (11-55) ahead of Lancaster & Morecambe’s Rosie Dale (12-02).