Longwood secure fourth championship

LONGWOOD Harriers’ Under-15s girls claimed fourth in the Yorkshire Cross Country County Championships at Lightwater Valley.

The team of Holly Brewster, Neve Hardcastle and Roisin McGrath produced the goods over the 3,900m course in Ripon to finish just outside the medals.

Hardcastle came 11th in the 74-strong field with a time of 14mins 57secs, with Brewster 12th in 14mins 58sec and McGrath 34th in 16mins 9secs.

Jack White finished 11th out of 59 in the under-15s boys, completing the 4,450m course in 15.15mins, while in the under-13s Riley Lynch came 71st and a time of 10.43mins.

Megan Hughes led the way for the under-13 girls, coming 23rd, followed by Sophie Wood, Lucy Hardcastle, Lucy Fairburn, Alice Kaye and Lucy Kaye – with the two teams coming in 11th and 17th overall, Josh Elderfield and James Scholes represented the senior men for Longwood over the 10,320m course, In a field of 326, Elderfield finised 233rd and Scholes 302.

Meanwhile, more than 30 members braved the drizzle and mud at the clubs Christmas Cross Country handicap at Leeds Road.

Brogan Cartwright was first girl and George Scholes first boy in the under-11s. The under-13s and under-15s ran together, with Andrew Fleming taking the honours for the boys and Neve Hardcastle the fastest girl.

In the seniors, Richard Northgate won the men’s race, and Rachel Scholes led the ladies.