The NYSD Cross Country fixture at Newton Aycliffe was held in sunny weather but conditions underfoot were decidedly boggy.

The ladies did two laps of the course and the men did four laps. Catriona Gaudie was the first lady Harrier to finish, in 13th place, in a time of 20.40.

Other Harriers: Angela Hayward 19th in 21.22, Jill Soper 29th in 23.00, Pat Kirby 33rd in 23.35, Maureen Gibbs 36th in 24.25, Louise Savory 42nd in 25.21, Kaye Mechie 43rd in 25.23, Karen Hudson (carrying an injury from her outing in the Dublin Marathon) 51st in 27.20, Pamela Sherlock 53rd in 29.20, Marian Codling 55th in 30.45. There were 56 finishers. The Ladies Team finished in fifth place out of nine.

A total of 138 runners completed the men's course and Walter Busuttil was 14th in 33.51.

Other Harriers: Merv Burn 17th in 34.08, Richard Hall 23rd in 34.26, John Yates 44th in 36.52, Stewart Mechie 46th in 37.01, Richard Soper 87th in 40.14, Ernie Huck 94th in 41.03, Alan Wikeley 103rd in 42.26, Steve Harrison 125th in 46.25. The team now compete in Division Two and are in second place out of nine teams.

The results of the Harewood 10 Trail Race are finally available and the event was completed by 566 runners over an interesting course on a good day for running. Darran Bilton of Kingston upon Hull AC was the winner in a time of 54.44. Walter Busuttil was in 27th place in 64.20, John Yates 31st in 64.49, Alan Harman 181st in 75.26, Ian Codling 358th in 86.41, Pamela Sherlock 554th in 112.20 and Marian Codling 555th in 112.32.

This was a friendly and well organised event and attracted 104 more runners than last year, in only the third staging of the event.

Meanwhile, over 300 runners took part in seven races in seven different events at Windlestone Hall School on November 10 as part of the North Yorkshire South Durham Cross Country league. This was a brilliant success with very positive feedback from many competitors and this event would have been impossible to stage without the generous help of the the School. The local farmer also gave permission to use his fields. Many thanks to Bishop Auckland Lions who arranged the catering, and to St Johns Ambulance day, and also to all the helpers from Newton Aycliffe Athletics Club.