Setback overcome as Leeds clinch title

Mike Burrett (11.00) gave Leeds a solid platform with eighth place on the opening stage and Chris Birchall (10.54) improved to fourth at the halfway point of the four-stage race. Veteran Martin Roscoe (10.44) picked up another place and anchor man Alan Buckley (10.38) finished off in style going past Stockport and East Cheshire with ease to win by 80 metres.

Hallamshire won the women's race by a massive margin. Lizzie Adams (12.23) set the scene winning the first of the three stages and Zanthe Wray (12.28) and Nicola Squires (12.21) just went further away. In fact this trio had the three fastest individual times of the race.

So dominant were Hallamshire that their B and C teams filled the next two places.

Leeds City won the under-17 men's race, but were late entries and could not count for the Northern title which went to Kingston-upon-Hull.

Leeds City were again in winning action yesterday when the opening Complete Runner West Yorkshire Cross Country League was held at Nunroyd Park, Guiseley.

They also supplied the individual winner, Mauizbin Ali, who went clear in the final stages after battling it out with Holmfirth's Matthew Pierson.

Ali, who comes from Sudan, has been living and working in Leeds for more than year. A steeplechaser with a best time of 8.50, the 26-year-old is easing back into training after a spell on the injured list and he looks set to contribute plenty to Leeds's quest for further honours.

Martin Roscoe and Chris Birchall, running their second race of the weekend, were third and fourth respectively and Leeds had three more in the top dozen to give them an easy team win over Bingley.

Katie Walshaw (Holmfirth) made a perfect start to the defence of her league title, running away from the women's field to win by 41 seconds from her Holmfirth teamimate Helen Berry.