York athletes shone in the North Yorkshire Schools' Cross Country championships at Tadcaster Grammar School.

There were four individual victories with very strong performances by Matthew Speake (York College) in the senior section; intermediates David MacQuarrie (Sherburn) intermediates and Nina Griffith (Millthorpe) and Emma Macalister-Hall (St Olave's) in year 7.

The first three dominated their respective races and were clear winners. In the year 7 race, which was run at fast pace, Macalister-Hall relaxed behind her more experienced rivals until the final stages of the race where her decisive change of pace quickly opened up a winning lead.

The year 7 team won the competition, having made great progress in the few weeks they have been running and they have shown great potential.

The Intermediate Girls were convincing winners of their team race, with the experienced quartet of Nina Griffith, Lara Gibbs, Aimee Collett and Asha Hibbert, supported two very promising newcomers from Selby - Melanie Evans and Ruth Tinsley.

In the younger boys' races, Philip Graves ran well to finish fourth in the year 7 event, while Edward Hick of Joseph Rowntree excelled himself to claim fourth place in the juniors and earn an unexpected place in the English Schools' Championships.

The first 15 in each race qualified to represent North Yorkshire Schools against Humberside at York Racecourse on Saturday, February 3. For those interested in continuing training there area sessions at the Racecourse on Thursday at 7pm and Sunday at 11.15am this week.

Updated: 12:29 Wednesday, January 24, 2001