David MacQuarrie of Nestl Rowntree Athletics Club beat the English Schools' champion in winning the Under-15 Boys race at the Nike Yorkshire Cross Country Championships at Rotherham.

The championships, which were held at Rotherham for the second successive year after being changed from its original Halifax venue, are the basis for county selection.

MacQuarrie, last year's Inter Counties runner-up, beat Stephen Enright of Halifax, the English Schools champion, by nine seconds to win in a time of 15min 48sec.

The two raced shoulder to shoulder for much of the three mile race, but as the large crowd waited to see them appear from the top of the hill on the second lap it was the York athlete who had the edge.

The decisive break was made 500 metres from home, the winning margin being 50 metres.

This individual success was matched by the Nestle Rowntree Under-15 Girls team, who won the gold medal while holding off strong challenges from both Bingley Harriers and Holmfirth.

The first three counters for the team were Aimee Collett, Nina Griffith and Lara Gibbsm who finished eighth, tenth and 12th respectively, but it was the overall strength of the nine strong team which helped to ensure victory. Collett also achieved County selection.

In the Junior Women Under-20 age group Helen Garnham finished eighth. In the Under-17 Men's race Sandy Cowan finished strongly in tenth place.

The county team now prepare for the Inter-Counties Championships at Wollaton Park, Nottingham on February 12.

Solid display by Acorn

Acorn Running Club's men's team produced a solid performance at the Nike Yorkshire Cross-country Championships at Rotherham.

Over an 11 kilometre course that incorporated three long and steep ascents, the Herringthorpe Valley provided a real test with the race winner being Ian Mitchell of Huddersfield club Longwood.

In the team competition Bingley Harriers took first place with Acorn's sextet, that included four veterans, finishing in ninth place.

The Acorn counting runners were: Jerry Baines (60th), Ged Hemblade (76th), John Duston (96th) and Kev Walker (100th).

Other Acorn placings were: Martin Kirby (63rd), Mike Raynes (71st) and Pete Hammond (114th).

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