WARM sunshine and the absence of rain were the perfect conditions for Skipton Ermysted's Grammar School's annual cross country run.

The all school run, which has been held for more than a hundred years, and involves both students and staff, saw 677 finish the course, from Aireville Park, and a new course record.

Many runners took to the course in fancy dress and money was raised for the charity Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) - in memory of former head boy Chris Greenwood - and also for the school playing fields.

Year seven runners were first away with 117 runners. At the front, pre-race favourites Andrew Robinson and Donnabhan Rudden set off hard with Logan Brown and Elliot Wood in close pursuit. As they came out of the golf course, again up the final hill and after the sprint finish the first four home were unaltered. With six home out of the first ten Petyt won the inter House competition.

The joint year eight and nine race saw only 160 finishers as two classes - including last year’s winner Harvey Lewis - were doing Geography fieldwork.

Year eights Alex Thompson and Sebastian Seggar Staveley led the way with Charlie Wood not far behind. Alex and Seb pushed each other and were both not only inside last year’s winning time but Seb equalled Jimmy’s course record with Alex one second ahead to claim a new school record. Hartley won the House competition.

The year ten and 11 race saw recent international Tom Barrett run a spectacular race. He broke clear on the first lap and relentlessly stretched his lead. The firm ground meant he could realistically challenge the course record broken last year by Jimmy Lund. Tom had finished a distant second then but this time he was just 11 seconds slower than Jimmy’s record but the second fastest ever round the course. Sam Jackson and Will Thompson made up the top three. Another good turnout saw 198 finishers, with Ermysted claiming the House victory.

In the senior event, Jimmy Lund was trying to claim a clean sweep of school records but had company on the first lap as teacher Tim Edward, Alex Ashby and Jacob Jackson all pushed him hard. Jimmy did pull clear on the second lap and won comfortably but well outside Tom Anderson’s course record. A fantastic 207 runners finished the senior race making it 677 runners in all age groups on the day. Hartley claimed the house victory and became overall house cross-country champions for 2016.

Results: Year seven: 1 Andrew Robinson, 2 Donnabhan Rudden, 3 Logan Brown. House winners, Petyt. Year eight/nine: 1 Alex Thompson, 2 Sebastian Seggar-Staveley, 3 Elliot Wood. House winners: Hartley. Year ten/11: 1 Tom Barrett, 2 Sam Jackson, 3 Will Thompson. House winners Ermysted. Year 12/13: 1 Jimmy Lund, 2 Tim Edward, 3 Alex Ashby. House winners: Hartley.