Leading from the front

ADAM HOWARD puts his feet up on Tuesdays.

Every other day of the week he is either training with Oldham and Royton Harriers or playing football with Springhead under-13s.

“He used to play cricket at Moorside, but had to give it up because he didn’t have the time to fit it in,” said mother, Louise.

Adam, at 13 years of age, is one of the most promising athletes in the country.

The Counthill School pupil has enjoyed an outstanding cross-country season.

He has carried all before him, winning the Inter-Counties Championships for under-13s at Wollaton in Nottinghamshire and the Greater Manchester Championships.

Adam completed back-to-back Oldham Schools titles last December, while he has wrapped up South-East Lancashire League and Red Rose League honours.

He finished third in the National Championships for his age group at Parliament Hill, London — he was unsuited by the heavy underfoot conditions — and most recently helped Greater Manchester to win the junior section (Years Eight/Nine) at the English Schools Championships in Loughborough.

Not bad going for someone who only took up running seriously two years ago.

Louise explained: “Peter Williams, a coach at Harriers, watched Adam win his first Oldham Schools title in 2007 and invited him to train with the club.

“He said ‘yes’ and it has snowballed from there.

“I don’t know where he gets it from. There is no family tradition of competitive running, it’s just something he’s naturally good at.”

Before Adam begins the track season, he has an important date in the capital city.

He is in the North-West team for the London Mini-Marathon on Sunday, April 26.

The race is run on the same day as the London Marathon and covers the last three miles of the actual course, which finishes along the famous Mall in front of thousands of people.

Adam will be experiencing the unique atmosphere of the event for the second time after finishing first in his age group and 11th overall in last year’s mini-marathon.

As for the future, Adam could go right to the very top, according to Harriers president Joe Ashcroft.

He said: “Adam is a very level-headed boy. He has no edge or attitude, which makes our life a lot easier.

“Some people are unwilling to take advice on board, but he wants to learn.

“He has got tremendous promise and is a joy to work with. Some athletes resent being pushed to the limit, but he seems to thrive on it.”

But Ashcroft warned that Adam will need careful nurturing if he is to fulfil his ambition and represent Great Britain.

He went on: “He has tremendous ability, both physically and mentally, but we have to be cautious with him.

“Sometimes we have to keep him in check, because he would work until he dropped if he had to.

“People should remember that he’s only 13. He could turn out to be a phenomenal athlete if he keeps developing and maturing in the right way.”


Adam’s 2008-09 Cross-Country Roll of Honour

Champion — Oldham Schools Championships at Year Eight

Champion — South-East Lancashire League at under-13s

Champion — Red Rose League at under-13s

Champion — Greater Manchester Championships at under-13s

Champion — Inter-Counties Championships at under-13s 3,000m

Runner-up — North of England Championships at under-13s.

Third place — National Cross-Country Championships at under-13s