Pontefract played host to this year’s Northern Cross Country Championship, with the tantalising prospect of pitting yourself against some of the top runners in the country, including current men’s Olympic triathlon champion Alistair Brownlee.

The recent poor weather had made conditions somewhat tough, indeed one newspaper report described it as a ‘quagmire’. Brownlee was in fact beaten to first place by Andy Davies (not that one), running for Stockport Harriers & AC, who finished in 37:44.

Three Striders carried the flag for us (which unfortunately meant we were three short of fielding a complete team); David Palmer, Ian Stinson and Trevor Burton, the latter two of which were separated by just one second in a thrilling finish.

In the women’s race Elie Vernon, also of Stockport Harriers, was first home in 28:22. Morpeth Harriers took the Senior Men’s team prize, while Rotherham Harriers were first in the Senior Women race.

Full results can be found on the Northern Athletics website.