Nestl Rowntree had two individual winners in the latest North Yorkshire South Durham cross-country league at Thirsk.

Sophie Hunter won the Under-13 girls' race and Emma McAllister-Hall returned from injury to win the U15 race. A much-improved Charlotte Maxted was not far behind McAllister-Hall in third spot.

In both team races, Nestl were squeezed into second place.

The senior women's team recorded a welcome win with Lara Gibbs returning to

her favourite surface to finish fourth. Her mother, Dawn, was close behind in in eighth. Claire Duck (17th) and Emma Willits (26th) completed the line-up.

Nestl's senior men's team came fourth in the third West Yorkshire Cross-Country League event at Huddersfield.

That has left them in a close battle with Bingley and Pudsey & Bramley for second place overall.

Andy Hilton was the first Nestl runner home in 29th with Tim Lawes returning to form just behind in 36th place.

The U13 boys' team was the other complete team, finishing third with good finishes from Ian Lynne 4th, Kieran Smith 17th and Paul Wise 21st.

Good performances were also recorded by Tom Bean, who finished fifth in the U17 boys, Helen Garnham, who was seventh in the women's race, and Alistair Smith, who finished ninth in the U15 boys.

Updated: 11:45 Wednesday, December 03, 2003