Leeds fail to make it four titles in a row

Winners for the last three years, they could only finished fifth this time in a race won surprisingly by Derby with Altrincham runners up.

Without several top athletes, Leeds were never on terms with the leaders after finishing 17th on the opening stage, a position improved to sixth by Joe Townsend on the second stage.

Townsend clocked 16:46, 11th fastest overall by the 20-year-old Birmingham University student.

International Dave Webb (16:44) was just two seconds faster than Townsend and he took Leeds to fourth, their highest position, on the penultimate stage.

Yorkshire Champions Holmfirth were back in 15th.

The Holmfirth women were the top Yorkshire club in the women's four-stage relay finishing sixth.

Katie Walshaw (18:01) was their fastest runner, just holding off a fast finishing Nicola Squires of Hallamshire on the final stage.

Leeds were left to ponder what might have been.

A superb run by European Marathon runner Susan Partridge took them to second place at the end of the third stage but they had no final stage runner to complete the team.

Partridge ran 16:47, the second fastest of the race which was won easily by favourites Chester le Street.