Athletics: Bradford Airedale's Richard Findlow won the North of England Cross County Championships at Sheffield on Saturday.

Throughout the 12km race in muddy Graves Park, Findlow was involved in an epic battle for the lead with Morpeth's Terry Hall. It was only during the final 100m that Findlow's sprint proved decisive as he powered clear to win by a narrow margin.

Skyrac's Peter Whitehead showed his strength by coming through to third in the final stages ahead of Morpeth's Mark Hudspith and Longwood's Ian Mitchell.

Altrincham's Jane Spark and Heather Heasman were one and two in the women's race where Bingley's Victoria Wilkinson was a creditable third in her first year as a senior. Victoria lead home a Bingley women's team depleted by injury and illness.

Sue Carriss finished in 46th and Bingley's other scorers for 12th place were Angie Bretherick and Shirley Moore.

Charlotte Sanderson, a recent acquisition from Skipton AC, showed her potential with third in the under-20s race..

There was disappointment in the Portuguese sunshine as Bingley were outside the medals representing England in the European Club's Cross Country Championships in Lisbon on Sunday.

The team encountered a bone dry, twisting six lap course run in temperatures of 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Colin Moore was first Bingley man home in 21st, followed by Andy Peace (42), Steve Green (47), Steve Hawkins (60), Mick Hawkins (61) and Matt Whitfield (70) enabling the team to finish inside the top ten.

Ian Fisher of Otley AC scorched to victory in Sunday's Brass Monkey run in York, to become Yorkshire Half Marathon champion.

The 28-year-old blasted off from the gun to go through the first mile in 4min 27sec and went on to build an unassailable lead. Only Longwood's Michael Pearson could muster any attempt to catch him, but Fisher took the title in a personal best 66-36. St Bede's runner Martin Love also impressed on the fog-bound course in 21st position with 75-51.

Angela Tooby Smith won the women's race from Bingley half marathon winner Alison Raw (Darlington). Sue Carriss proved her fitness to edge out Knavesmire's Jane Shelmerdina for the Yorkshire bronze medal. There was also a personal best for Louise Rosindale (Baildon) with 87-20.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.