Knavesmire Harriers closed the gap on league leaders Hartlepool Burn Road AC with victory in the Thirsk fixture of the North Yorkshire South Durham Cross Country League.

Dave Chippett (9th) and Andy Capel (11th) led the team over a six-mile course resembling a swamp in parts.

Andy Bissell (21st), Neil Strange (22nd), Andy Booth (26th) and Barry Atkinson (48th) soon followed, ensuring a winning tally of 137 to beat Hartlepool by 23 places.

The race was won by guest runner Andrew Kilding in 35min 4sec, with 179 athletes completing the course.

Other Knavesmire men to finish were Mick McGrath (95th), Wayne Coaker (102nd), Gary Huggan (107th), Mark Sullivan (124th), Richard Gott (144th), James Macdonald (163rd) and Nigel Titjen (176th).

Knavesmire's women's team also produced their best placing of the season, finishing second behind the unbeaten Middlesbrough and Cleveland AC.

Nicky Kyme (16th) was the first Harrier home over the three miles circuit, with Fiona Strange (20th), Rebecca Weekes (24th) and Liz Kooper (26th) making up the scoring quartet. Team captain Mandy Clarke (31st) also ran well in a field of 67 runners.

Men's Division One (top): Hartlepool Burn Road 34 points, Knavesmire Harriers 31, New Marske Harriers 28, Loftus AC 24, York Acorn 20

Senior Women (top): Middlesbrough and Cleveland 34, New Marske Harriers 28, Richmond and Zetland 24, Knavesmire Harriers 23, Thirsk 20.

Knavesmire Harriers will be competing in the Yorkshire Cross Country Championships at Leeds University on January 6 before the league resumes at Acklam on January 14.