Athletics: Reigning English Cross Country Relay champions Bingley Harriers will travel to Berry Hill Park at Mansfield on Saturday to defend their title.

Colin Moore will replace Keith Anderson in an otherwise unchanged line-up from the team which won last year. Richard Nerurkar will return to action after his somewhat disappointing run, by his standards, in the European Championships Marathon in Budapest, where he finished eighth.

His inclusion is a massive boost for the club, as he wasn't expected to race again before the New Year. Mick Hawkins has enjoyed a resurgence of form in the second half of the year and will compete along with Andy Peace whose fell running pedigree will hold him in good stead in the push for further honours.

Saturday is also the day for the second fixture in the West Yorkshire Cross Country League at Nell Bank, Ilkley. Bradford Airedale's Richard Findlow won the opening event in appalling conditions at Northcliffe Park, Shipley in October but withdrew from representing Yorkshire in the Barnsley 10km with an Achilles problem two weeks ago.

It remains to be seen whether he will compete in what should be heavy conditions. Longwood's 21-year-old Ian Mitchell was runner up to Findlow and should be prominent again. Holmfirth took the team award in the opener with six runners in the top 26 finishers and will be looking to strengthen their grip.

Keighley and Craven's men's team should be at full strength as they have decided to opt out of the trip to Mansfield to concentrate their efforts locally. They were fourth team behind Holmfirth, Wakefield and Pudsey and Bramley and will be aiming to maintain their surge to prominence.

Last year's women's champion Jane Clark was beaten into second place by Carol Greenwood in the opener, but with assistance from third place Sarah Rowell put her club Pudsey and Bramley in the driving seat for the team title, with Keighley and Craven's women in hot pursuit.

On Sunday the Cop Hill Fell Race from Letham Cricket Ground starts at 11.15am. The seven mile course covers 900ft of climbing and the record time for the event in the women's category was set back in 1986 by Carol Greenwood (formerly Haigh) and D Topham holds the men's best with 40-58 set way back in 1981.

Sportage promote three mile and five mile races in Roundhay Park, Leeds on Sunday morning. There are entries on the day for a £1 surcharge with a 10am start for the shorter race. The five mile event starts at 11am and every finisher receives a pair of gloves.

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