ATHLETES from Craven Schools achieved further success in the North Yorkshire Schools Athletics finals at Ryedale Stadium, York on Saturday, (writes Roger Ingham).

Six of them won county titles, among them Matt Cottam of South Craven, who also set a new record, while another contingent claimed runners-up places against tough opposition.

Cottam's new record came in the Junior Boys' 200m, where he clipped a tenth of a second off the previous best with a 24.3secs run.

Another outstanding performance at York came from Ermysted's James Finucane, who threw a mighty 46.58m to win the Junior Boys' javelin. This was almost three metres ahead of the elite qualifying mark for the English Schools finals.

Also in top form in the same event was runner-up Andrew Reeday of Settle High, whose throw of 40.75m would have won many schools finals across the country.

Meanwhile, Craven's other winners at the championships comprised Peter Drake (Giggleswick), who took the Senior Boys' 400m title in 50.8secs; Ben Rusius (Ermysted's) in the Intermediate Boys' 3,000m in 9mins 23.6secs; Emma Shaw (Upper Wharfedale), who won the Intermediate Girls' Discus with a 32.34m throw; and Stevie Copsey (Settle High), who again cleared way above his head height to win the Intermediate Boys' High Jump with a best effort of 1.70m

All these youngsters won selection for the North Yorkshire Schools team to compete in the annual fixture against Nottingham and Humberside tomorrow at Nottingham, where an addition to the team will be Aireville's Carlos Puente in the Junior Boys' Discus, who qualified on the strength of his efforts in the recent Yorkshire Championships in Sheffield.

After tomorrow's fixture, the North Yorkshire team for the England Schools finals will be selected, so that athletes still needing qualify times will have their final chance tomorrow.