ON November 25 the Harrogate and Craven Area Cross-Country Championships took place at Ripon Grammar School’s playing fields, and once again Ermysted’s shone.

This was a very flat course and remarkably firm underfoot considering Storm Bert had affected so much of the country over the previous weekend.

There was a lot to compete for, with individual titles, medals for the first three and trophies for the best school in each of the five age groups on offer for both the boys and girls.

Overall, there were 400 runners from a total of 15 schools, and Ermysted’s incredibly won four of the five boys’ team titles with the highlight being Joseph Preston leading a one, two three in the Y7 race.

The first race was the seniors’ where Giggleswick’s Jack Sanderson was favourite, and he led the leaders round the short lap before making a break on the first of three long laps.

The only runner to stay close was Ermysted’s Ewen Wilkinson who was pulled away in second as the leading group fragmented. Those two places never looked like changing but Ermysted’s Lachlan Wills showed a return to form after illness as he made his way through the pack to claim 5th.

His team-mate Samesh Chotai also timed his effort well to finish inside the top ten, whilst Tom Hooper nursed Sam Bentham who had been absent from school last week round the course.

They finished 11th and 12th to claim the final automatic qualifying places for the Area team just ahead of Nathan Hird in 13th.

Hird is likely still to be selected as a guest for the County Championships and Ermysted’s claimed their first team title with a low score of just 28 points.

Also making the Area team was South Craven’s Sam Barber with an excellent 4th place.

The senior girls event saw some strong individual runs as South Craven’s Layla Kirkley was runner-up, Megan Wilkinson was 4th, Olivia Aldham 6th and Alice O’Sulivan 9th (both from South Craven), whilst Giggleswick’s Layla Nostron 8th and M. Voss 12th all make the Area team.

Giggleswick’s Y7 girls had a day to remember as their scoring four runners all made the top ten. M. Hart 4th, J Hodgson 5th, Georgia Johnson 8th and Bethany Kay 10th all made the Area team and their 27 point total for their finishing positions easily won the team shield.

In the Y7 Boys race Ermysted’s dominated from the whistle as Jack Mitchell and Joseph Preston set off like a train and soon had a lead.

After the first short lap Ralph Emsley had moved to the head of the chasing group with the leaders in his sights. On lap two, Emsley pulled clear of the pack and closed in on Mitchell, but Preston broke clear and started to build a winning lead.

The third lap saw Preston come in well clear with Emsley beating Mitchell in the sprint finish for the other medal places.

Mylo Carr had the race of his life as he came home in 5th with Ed cox 7th. All five Ermysted’s athletes clearly made the Area team and their team total of just 11 points for the total of the first four runners’ home was unbeatable to win the second team title.

The Y8 and Y9 runners share a team in the County Championships and although they ran together are divided into two separate races as they finished.

However, the first 12 runners’ home can be assured of County Team selection. The girls race saw another Craven 1, 2, 3 as Giggleswick’s Mia McGoldrick led home from Skipton Girls duo of Alice white and Maisie Oddy.

Camilla Hart (Y9) & Poppy Matterson of Giggleswick also made the Area team coming 10th. Once separated into Y8 and Y9 races Giggleswick claimed a closely fought team competition as Holly Fawcett 17th and Eliza Mallinson 23rd ensured a victory by just 1 point over Harrogate’s St. Aidans with Skipton Girls just 2 points further back. The Y9s only had Giggleswick’s Camilla Hart making the joint area team but 3 athletes from Skipton Girls also finished highly in the Y9 race as Holly Eyles 6th, Jess Robinson 10th & Layla Stott 11th went close in the team competition.

The Y8/9 boys saw Ermysted’s Alex Frew have the run of his life as he came through the field for a tremendous runner-up spot with Joe Bentham also having a great run in 4th. Seth Box and Finn Beggan were inseparable throughout the race but in the sprint finish Seth gained a place for 6th with Finn coming back in 8th. Other Craven successes saw South Craven’s Jacob O’Sulivan 7th, Settle’s Carl Sanderson 9th and Giggleswick’s Archie Cole 11th made the area team. Once separated into the two separate age groups, Ermysted’s Y8s finished runner-up team with Will Parker being 5th Y8 home. However, Ermysted’s Y9s easily won their team with their 4 scorers in the first 6 Y9s home.

The Y10/11 Girls race saw a third Harrogate & Craven Individual Champion from the Craven Area as Skipton Girls Izzy Wright continued her good form. She led from gun to tape to lead her team to runners-up as school-mate Rita Box 5th gained Area team selection.

The Y10/11boys saw Ermysted’s once again at the sharp end of the race. George Marsh spearheaded their challenge with Will Oakden also with the leaders on the first of 3 laps, with the rest of the team in close order. On lap 2 the leader broke clear with George and Will in a chasing group of 4. As the final lap ticked away George was in a battle for 2nd and third with Will battling for 4th.

Both Ermysted’s runners lost out in their sprints, but 3rd and 5th gave them a great start in the team competition where Oliver Frew came through strongly for 7th & Ben Milward 9th for a total of just 24 points and Ermysted’s 4th team title. Ermysted’s strength in depth at this age group was awesome as following in procession after Ben were Sam Cheung 10th, Louis Sturman 11th and Dan Hood 12th who all qualified for the Area team for January’s County match.

So incredibly Ermysted’s won four out of five boys’ team titles, Giggleswick won two of the girls’ teams and Craven also had 4 individual winners. Add to all that the 40 or so runners from schools in Craven who gained selection for the County Championships at Aireville Park on Saturday Jan 11 and it certainly was another impressive day out over the country. Let’s see how many of them can make the County team in January.