THE big races this weekend for Richmond and Zetland athletes were over the cross country courses not just of Lightwater Valley for the Yorkshire Championships, Haileybury in Herfordshire but also up north of the border at the Great Edinburgh Cross Country in Edinburgh.

The squad proved their quality with not just one but two of our athletes qualifying to represent Yorkshire and gain their Yorkshire vests! Kyle Rabjohn had an outstanding run in the U13's to finish 6th (8:58) and only 7 seconds behind 3rd to be the first of our athletes to claim his representative vest.

Josh Hammett in his first championship was an excellent 20th (9:30), with Charlie Stephenson a very fine 40th (9:40), Ben Lambert with a good run in 46th (9:56) and Daniel Francis running well for 48th (9:56). Good runs also from Thomas O'Mahoney in 60th (10:07) and Thomas Greer in 79th (13:08). These results meant the squad were a very impressive 5th team.

Emily Francis finished well in 78th (11:36) as our only runner in the U13 girls race. In the U15's, Will Smith was the first harrier home in 32nd (15:57), Matthew Lambert was next in 41st (16:18), James Davidson in 51st (17:04), Sam Kettlewell in 57th (17:48), Callum Crisp in 62nd (19:05) and Mackenzie Monteith in 66th (20:44).

The squad were placed 11th and 15th in the team race. Anna Harrison was 44th (16:46) in the U15 girls race and Vicky Smith in 56th (18:19). In the U17 men's race, Harry Robson was 23rd (22:26), with Jake Stephenson just behind in 24th (22:30), Joshua York in 40th (29:37) and gave the team 7th place. Chloe Dalton was 19th in the girls race for the same age group (19:39).

In the senior women's race there were some excellent performances. Jo Adams was 12th (32:45), a storming run from Rosie Adams in 19th (34:21), the effervescent Jacqui Keavney in 40th (35:54, 1st V50), Michelle Sprent in 117th (45:08), Fiona Wilson in 132nd (46:40), Nicki Buckett in 142nd (49:13) and Jane Thornton in 151st (56:06) which gave the squad 9th in the team race.

Reece Dalton also ran himself to Yorkshire selection for 6th in the junior men's race (28:24), Luke Hack was 17th (31:41) and James Greer in 20th (32:22). The senior men's race had Rob Scott in 40th (37:27), Tony Lambert in 51st (37:52, 2nd V45), George Foster in 74th (39:04), Ken Harker in 99th (40:44), Shaun Purkiss in 141st (42:30) and Simon Withers in 218th (47:31). This gave the team 14th place.

Marc Scott took the train ride up to Edinburgh for the Great Edinburgh Cross Country International to represent England in the 1km mixed relays.

He had a fine race albeit at a much shorter distance than he is used to and finished 3rd in his leg against teams from GB, Europe, USA, Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

The England team finished in 5th and Marc’s time was only 6 seconds slower than the quickest leg of the day.

Steve Sadler was also on the road to Haileybury in Hertford to take in a cross country with his old club at Ware.

Steve took to the flatter surfaces around the school grounds at Haileybury Imperial and Service College, finishing in a very impressive 47:40.

At Fountains Abbey parkrun Greg MacDonald was 5th (19:00). Ian Hepworth was 114th at Darlington parkrun (24:27), Lauren Barker was 134th (24:56) and Tony Osorio was 177th (26:52). Michelle Nolan was 3rd at Gateshead parkrun (18:59).