Buckingham shows his quality to emerge top

Last year's winner Matt Bowser (Lincoln Wellington) forced the pace for much of the way and made determined bid to break clear over the last kilometre.

Buckingham stuck with him, however, and produced a strong finish to win in 29:56. It was easily a personal best for the Holmfirth runner with Bowser also beating 30 minutes for the first time. Close behind came Leeds City's Simon Deakin and Longwood's Andrew Pearson, running his fastest 10K for many years.

Deakin led Leeds City, with three in the first 10, to a team win.

Following close on her Northern Cross Country win, Hallamshire's Hatti Dean had another success, taking the women's award in 33:28 a personal best for the distance.

Although she was never headed, Dean could not relax because former winner of this race, Susan Partridge was close behind and finished in 33:28.

Dean was 20th overall in a field of 800 and she also led Hallamshire to team victory.

Jamie Williamson (City of Sheffield) was an early winner at the McCain City Challenge Indoor Meeting at Sheffield yesterday.

Competing for Sheffield Flames in this innovative meeting, Williamson threw 17.18.

On the track, Rhys Smith (City of Sheffield) was an early winner leading all the way in the 400m to clock 48.55. Soon afterwards Louise Bloor (Trafford) was another Sheffield Flames winner in the 200m recording a personal indoor best of 24.37. She also placed third in the long jump with 5.73. Bloor also went on to win a keenly contested 60m in 7.50 making her easily Sheffield's biggest points scorer.

A predicable win for Luke Cutts (Dearnside) in the pole vault gave Sheffield more points and they had a healthy lead at the halfway mark, Cutts won easily with 5.30 before attempting a world qualifying height of 5.70.

Late victories by Zara Hohn (Wakefield) in the 60 hurdles (8.41) and Rebecca Peake (Sale) in the shot (16.42) extended Sheffield's lead and they finished well clear of London North, London South, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Glasgow and Cardiff.

With another match in the series, Sheffield are strong favourites for the Inter City title.

Leeds City's James Wilkinson, winner of the recent Northern Junior title, finished eighth in a high class field at the British Students Cross Country Championship at Stirling on Saturday.

Wilkinson led Birmingham University to silver medals behind St Mary's College in the team race.