SNOW and ice were the order of the day for the NYSD Cross Country fixture at Ormesby Hall, the second race in the Club Championship.

Conditions were surprisingly good for running on this level course and overhead conditions were near perfect - apart from the cold. Several members recorded quicker times than last year, when squelchy mud, particularly around the start area, was the order of the day! Josh Fothergill certainly relished the conditions, finishing 1st in the 5k or so race which involved U17 males and females and senior ladies. Josh's time was 19.22, and included a pause with about 500 metres to go to help a fellow runner who was suffering stomach cramps. (The Brownlee brothers spring to mind!) Olivia Mulligan ran well to come in 11th lady in 22.51, with Donna James making a return to come 22nd in 24.27, Faith Coy 72nd in 30.23 just ahead of Tracey Lowther, 73rd in 30.26. Heather Bell was next, 76th in 31.20, Alison Butcher 79th in 31.49, Sara Langstaff 80th in 31.50, Cath Lumb 93rd in 35.17 and Marian Codling 95th in 44.07.

The more senior men also ran in this race, Geoff Bullock taking 28.28 and Ian Codling 40.03.

Tom Levi was first club finisher in the senior men's race over a distance somewhat short of 10k, coming 60th out of 152 in 39.19, with Stephan Tomaszewski 67th in 39.59. Ken Wood 74th in 40.36, Adam Leighton, in his first race in club colours, 100th in 43.24, Mike Lowther 103rd in 43.50, Rob Burn 108th in 44.31, Andy Butcher 113th in 45.01, Martyn Coy 117th in 45.27, Jody Sygrove 126th in 46.51 and Duncan Fothergill 145th in 51.48 - a full 8 minutes quicker than the time he recorded for the race last year!

With Fountains Abbey Park Run cancelled because of snow and ice on the course, a few regulars transferred to the Northallerton event, with Peter Richardson 30th out of 97 in 27.56, Phillip Craig 45th in 29.13, just a few seconds ahead of Ken Evitt, 46th in 29.19. Paul Adams came 48th in 29.31 and Lianne Robinson 80th in 36.26.

Charlotte Wilton also had a change, trying the Redcar Park Run for the first time. It obviously suited her, as she came 26th out of 202, and 2nd F, in 21.41.

Entries continue to flow in for the mostly flat Thirsk 10 road race, with Wheelchair Race and Fun Run, at Thirsk Racecourse on March 18th.

Full details are on the club website.