YORK running club Knavesmire Harriers have qualified for the AAA of England National Six Stage Road Relay championships at their very first attempt.

Running in the Northern Six Stage Championships at Liverpool's Sefton Park, Knavesmire had to finish in the top 25 teams out of 116 clubs entered in the event.

The race consisted of six legs, each of four miles of parkland and was ideally suited for fast times.

David Chippett got Knavesmire off well on the first leg, coming in 39th place clocking 21 minutes exactly. Andy Capel (21.06) moved the club into 35th place, handing over to Jon Pavis, who then ran the fastest leg for the Knavesmire team. Pavis's 19min 54secs effort took the Harriers up into 23rd place at the end of the third leg.

Alan Beaves (21.10) gained one more position on the fourth leg taking Knavesmire into 22nd place, just ten seconds behind City of Hull AC, with a host of clubs just seconds behind battling for a top 25 place.

Knavesmire's 22nd position was retained to the finish with Andy Bissell (21.23) then the team captain Neil Strange (21.06) bringing the team home with a total time of 2hrs 05 mins 49 secs.

Knavesmire 'B' team also performed well, finishing in a creditable 49th place with Andy Booth (22.37), Barry Atkinson (22.30), Giles Hawking (22.39), Matt Turner (23.09) Mick McGrath (24.06) and Steve Boynton (22.17).

This performance will give Knavesmire a boost for the forthcoming cross country season, as Hartlepool Burn Road AC, league champions of the North Yorkshire and South Durham XC League for the last two seasons finished in 33rd place and over four minutes behind the York club.

The race was won comfortably by Morpeth Harriers, taking the gold medals with a time of 1.52.46, Salford Harriers 1.57.36 won silver, with fellow Manchester club Trafford AC, 1.57.59, taking bronze.

Knavesmire Harriers were the only North Yorkshire club and one of just eight Yorkshire clubs to qualify for the National Championships, the others being Bingley Harriers, Leeds City AC and Barnsley Harriers.

The National Six Stage Road Relay Champion-ships will take place at Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield, near Birming-ham, on October 28.