SETTLE’S Jack Sanderson bounced back from Covid in style at the the Northern Schools’ Inter-Counties Cross-Country last weekend.

The youngster led from gun to tape in the Junior Boys age group in the event which pits the cream of young athletes from North Yorkshire, Cumbria, County Durham, Northumberland and Cleveland against each other

Jack was the only outright Craven winner on the day but he also led his team to victory at Stewart Park, in Middlesbrough.

Ermysted’s Ewen Wilkinson who came 16th - and fifth North Yorkshire representative - not only helped to win the team title but should have done enough for selection in the English Schools team.

However, Zac Jardine from South Craven, who was just a second behind Ewen and also played a crucial role for the team, is likely to miss out on selection for English Schools Final.

Layla Kirklee of South Craven was one of the four Craven athletes to win a County Title last month and she had another good run at Middlesbrough as she came home in the bronze medal position.

Layla also led her junior girls team to victory. Settle’s Charlotte Peart (35) and Skipton Girls’ Izzy Wright (63) were both members of the winning team and in so doing earned their County vests.

George Marsh from Ermysted’s was the minor boys county champion at Catterick and backed that up with another great run.

He was actually caught out a bit by being boxed in at the start and had a significant gap to close on the leaders.

Despite a strong headwind, he worked hard to close in on the trio of Durham athletes ahead of him, George was closing all the way to the line and claimed bronze in the sprint finish just two seconds off silver.

Will Oakden and Will Pease also from Ermysted’s came 16th and 18th respectively and with that Will Pease cemented selection for the national team.

They also helped their team to third place as they proudly wore their County vests for the first time.

The Minor girls saw three South Craven athletes gain their first county vests as they also led their team to victory.

Lydia Eastwood (14th) led the local contingent home just ahead of Izzy Patefield 16th and Holly Fitch 21st.

Ermysted’s supplied four runners in the Inter Boys team with Lachlan Wills leading the way in 24th.

He was third home for North Yorkshire and should have done enough to gain selection for the National.

Samesh Chotai (40th) and Oscar Smyth (64th) were both county debutants and did themselves proud.

Sam Bentham was 44th and will hope to hit better form when he competes in March’s English Schools Final.

South Craven’s Olivia Aldham led the local girls home in the Inter Girls event as she came 14th. Megan Wilkinson was 44th home.

The Senior Boys had Ermysted's final county champion on show in Alex Thompson.

However, in a high quality race he was soon off the pace and finished a creditable but for him disappointing seventh.

His school-mate Robert Mann finished 55th.

A meeting will decide those final two places for the English Schools team and one or two local athletes will be on tenterhooks until selections are confirmed.