ILKLEY Grammar School student George Dey will be representing West Yorkshire on Saturday in the ESAA National Cross Country Championship at Witton Country Park, Blackburn.

Thirteen-year-old George gained his place by finishing in second in his qualifying race.

This cross country event is the most eagerly anticipated event of the winter for young athletes.

Organised entirely by volunteer teachers, they bring together the best athletes in each English county to compete for the honour of being the best in the country.

Witton Park is well known to those in the North of England and provides an interesting cross country course.

It starts and finishes on slightly undulating, grassy playing fields, with one very steep climb leading to a pretty, but quite challenging, run across the top of the hill and around the saucer.

After that it is a long and fast downhill run with grassy tussocks, passing through a very muddy gateway at the bottom, leading back on to the playing fields. There is a long flat stretch at the start and the same at the finish.

Entry to the event is by virtue of athletes being selected by county team managers. Teams comprise a maximum of 12 athletes, of which only eight are allowed to compete.

The first six finishers in each team count towards the team competition – final positions are added up and the team with the lowest score wins.