FIVE Aireborough athletes played key roles as Leeds City Athletics Club were crowned Saucony English National Cross-Country Champions at Parliament Hill, London.

Leeds packed all six counters were ed home by Horsforth's Martin Hilton (19th).

He was followed by a stream of blue and gold vests. The Horsfoth duo of Andy Beevers (26th) and Martin Roscoe (34th) were followed by Yeadon's Greg Hull (37th).

Simon Deakin, also of Horsfoth, completed the counters just 14 seconds behind in 41st place.

That made the difference. Leeds taking the title over the gruelling course by 25 points.

They had a combined team score of 181 while their nearest challengers were Morpeth (156) while Tipton were a long way back in third place on 275 points.

Otley AC's Ian Fisher was also in good form in the same race, finishing 25th in the 1,100 strong field.

Next year's National Champion-ships are at Roundhay Park, and where better for Leeds to defend the title.

Several younger local athletes returned from the capital with a great deal of success and credit. In particular, Horsforth's Alistair Brownlee (Bingley Harriers) who continued to show what a force he is in the under -15 boys' age group.

Out of the hundreds of finishers he came an excellent fifth and can now be really optimistic about the English Schools' Championships in Brighton.

Another Horsforth athlete who can look forward to the schools' championships is Elizabeth Spencer of Holmfirth Harriers.

She finished in a superb 22nd position in the under-20 women's race. Her older brother, Robert, also ran well and finished 107th in the under-20 men's event.

There was also a fine run from Guiseley's Alex Davy (Leeds City AC), who, despite being a year under age, achieved 196th in the under-15 boys' category.

Bingley Harrier Johnny Brownlee of Horsforth was 48th in the under-13 race.

Skyrac AC

SKYRAC athletes made the trip to Barton on Humber to participate in the final cross-country event of the season.

In the under-13 boys, newcomer Jason Blac (11) set the day off with a fine run finishing fifth, while Kate Edmondson gave a solid display in the under-15 girls.

In the senior/junior men's race Skyrac had six outstanding performances, with Chris Bryan (third), Joel Riley (fourth) and Jon Keith (seventh) winning the gold team medals.

Chris Miller (ninth), Ryan Owen (33rd) and Nuno Cesar De-sa (38th in his first cross-country) were sixth in team event.

In the under-17 and senior ladies' race Rebecca Cesar De-sa was ninth and Laura Kirk (14th).

Joel Riley had an outstanding run in the Inter-Counties at Nottingham in the junior men's race, where he was 23rd. As one of the youngest in the race Joel is fast becoming one of the national up and coming stars.

On Saturday he will represent North Yorkshire in the English Schools' Championships.

After winning the Northern Indoors 800m under-17 title Laura Kirk missed the schools' qualifying because of illness. Mary Stead made a fine start to her season in the Sports Hall Athletics representing West Yorkshire and gaining three medals.

The unique feat of Graham Breeze and Derek Emsley winning all ten of the Skyrac Fell Championship races between them and therefore sharing the trophy cannot be repeated in 2003.

At John's Run, the opening race for 2003, Bob Pritchard, who is primarily a road runner, secured maximum points to head the new table followed by Max Wood and Steve Batley.

Derek and Graham came fifth and eighth respectively which, in terms of the championship, is equivalent to nil points.

Neither were racing last weekend with Derek doing long distance training for the forthcoming London Marathon and Three Peaks Race but others were and on Sunday at the Norton nine mile road a recovering Peter Rawnsley finished around 4 minutes slower than in 2002 in 61.23.

The race was won by Andrew Pearson (Bingley) who is a past winner of Skyrac's Guiseley Gallop which Peter organises.

On Saturday the winner at the Noonstone Fell Race was George Ehrhardt (Todmorden), the victor of last week's Ilkley Moor Fell Race, in 68.11 and for Skyrac Duncan Asquith was 35th in 84.24 and Malcolm Coles 77th (94.59) in a field of 132 finishers.

Otley A C

Last weekend saw the final race of the Sport Direct Cross Country League at Temple Newsam Park and members of Otley AC were out in force. The course, over five miles, was quite hilly and, despite recent dry weather, conditions were very muddy.

First home for Otley was James Cullen in 26th position. In his first full cross-country season, James seems to have taken to the sport like a duck to water.

In 44th position was the ever-reliable Carl Walsh who just managed to nip in front of Malcolm Court who was next in 45th place.

Graham Stead maintained his recently improved form by finishing in 64th whilst Howard Jeffrey, returning from injury, was in 81st place.

Trevor Lambert made one of his rare appearances in cross-country and finished 108th whilst David Cattanach and Antonio Cardinale brought up the rear in 115th and 118th respectively.

In the ladies' race, Helen Walsh continued her improved form by leading the Otley ladies home in 19th position. Carol Armitstead managed 23rd and Ann Atkinson finished 37th. New member Gloria Jackson did well to finish in 66th place.

Elsewhere, Otley AC were represented in several road races. Tom Hannah and Phil Robinson travelled to South Yorkshire to compete in the Norton Nine.

The latter celebrated his recently acquired V60 status by finishing in an excellent time of 62.24 whilst the former, preparing for his impending retirement, was pleased to finish in 63.37.

David Hainsworth, on an exploratory visit to the Lake District for the forthcoming Otley AC training weekend, took the opportunity to compete in the Haweswater Half Marathon.

On a very scenic but hilly course, he was pleased to achieve a time of 1 hour 39 minutes, mirroring his recent performance at Liversedge.

Julian Mawson travelled to St. Annes for a ten mile road race and achieved seventh place in 56.51.

Horsforth Harriers

In the final race of this year's series, held at Temple Newsam, Horsforth Harriers men's team swept to another overwhelming victory to take the Premier Division title of the Sport Direct Cross-Country League.

Spurred on by coming in as runners up in last season's championship, Horsforth's men were fired up for this year's races and achieved a notable first by becoming the first club to win all five of the races in the series.

Tim Midgley, following his success at Kippax in the previous race, was again first home at Temple Newsam.

It looks like Horsforth's ladies will have to settle for being runners up again.

Ilkley Harriers got a massive turn out of their ladies to ensure victory in the last 'winner takes all' race to draw level with Horsforth on points but take the title on the basis of most outright race wins in the series.

It was not all bad news for Horsforth's ladies, as Helen Sly turned down the opportunity of a ticket to the Worthington Cup Final to race, and as a result of winning the race there, claimed her own clean sweep having taken victory in each of the five races.

The team and individual awards will be presented at a special awards evening to be held on March 14 at Quo Vadis in Leeds.

Athletics skills

On Wednesday, in association with St Mary's School Sports College, Skyrac AC will be offering coaching for youngsters aged under-10 years.

They will be able to develop their sporting skills from 4pm to 5pm at the new clubhouse at Nunroyd Park, Yeadon.

Details from Mr Richard Chattoe at St Mary's School on 01943 883000.