BLACKBURN Harriers’ rising star Josh Boyle has been crowned the Todmorden 5k Winter Series champion.

The MU18 runner claimed the crown by racing to victory — his first in the series — in the fourth and final race.

Boyle came home in 17 minutes and 48 seconds, with Burnley AC’s Daniel Balshaw a close second in 18mins 2secs.

Balshaw was also second in the final standings, behind Boyle, and ahead of the unattached Ian Jackson in third.

Jackson was fifth on the day, ahead of Todmorden Harriers’ Craig Stansfield, the second-fastest MV45, in seventh in 18mins 43secs.

Stansfield was followed by clubmates Daniel Taylor, who was 10th in 19mins 14secs, and Matt Flanagan, who was the third-fastest MV40 and 11th overall in 19mins 27secs.

One place behind in 12th in 19mins 31secs was Clayton-le-Moors Harriers’ Richard Briscoe, with David Lord, of Trawden AC, 13th in 19mins 38secs, a time that made him the fastest MV50.

Also making the top 20 were Todmorden Harriers’ Richard Butterwick, who was 14th in 19mins 57secs, and Lord’s clubmate Dale Grimshaw, who was 20th in 20mins 55secs.

UK Netrunner Hannah Oldroyd was the fastest female and fourth overall in 18mins 23secs.

The second female home, and the fastest FU18, was Rossendale Harriers’ starlet Shauna Williamson, whose time of 20mins 56secs made her 21st overall.

Age group prizes went to Accrington Road Runners duo Julia Hartley and Deborah Gowans. Hartley was the fastest FV40 and 26th overall in 21mins 36secs, while Gowans was the fastest FV50 and 28th overall in 21mins 57secs.

Ron Chappell, of Clayton-le-Moors Harriers, was the fastest MV65 and 53rd overall in 27mins 32secs, while Jackie Hesketh of Todmorden Harriers was the fastest FV65 and 55th overall in 30mins.

Todmorden Harriers’ Flanagan was sixth in the overall standings, his clubmate Butterwick ninth, and Trawden AC’s Lord eighth.

Also making the top 20 in the overall standings were Accrington Road Runners’ Gowan, who was the fastest FV50 in 13th, Trawden AC’s Grimshaw, who was 15th, and Blackburn Harriers’ Natalya Irvine, who was the fastest FU18 in 16th.