A keen overnight frost and a snow flurry failed to soften the spirits of more than 200 hardy youths who had gathered in Skipton’s Aireville Park on Saturday morning for the annual Harrogate-Craven Schools Cross-Country Championships The event is one of the highlights for on the local secondary schools and colleges sporting calendar and also represents the first qualifying stage of the English Schools Championships.

The weather did see the number of competitors fall from its normal level but it was still pleasing to see contestants from places as far flung as Ingleton and Ripon, the heights of North Ribbles-dale, Malhamdale, Upper Wharfedale, Blubberhouses and Nidderdale defy the weather.

Their presence was one in the eye for the faint-hearted who might have claimed to have been snowed in.

In essence, all the main contenders were present, and amongst it all, Craven athletes commendably won four individual titles whilst Ermysted’s and Giggleswick collectively won seven of the ten team titles.

Indeed Ermysted’s came within a point of completing a grand slam of boys titles.

Having won the seniors, intermediates (years 10 and 11), year 8 and year 7 events, they just missed out in the year 9 contest.

The Skipton school tied for top spot with Harrogate’s St John Fisher who clinched the title by virtue of the fact that their last counter finished ahead of his Ermy-sted’s counterpart.

Giggleswick’s hat-trick of conquests were all achieved in the girls events where they triumphed in the seniors, year 8 and year 7 events.

Giggleswick also finished runners-up behind St John Fisher, in the other two girls events for good measure.

Upper Wharfedale also produced a fine performance to finish runners-up to Ermysted’s in the year 8 boys.

Craven also provided four of the individual champions – three of them falling to Ermystead’s runners.

Billy Pinder won the senior boys, Tom Blanchard, the year 9 race and Alistair Harvey triumphed in the year 7 contest.

The quartet of Craven winners was completed by Upper Wharfedale’s Jamie Poulter in the Year 8 boys.

All of the runners deserved credit. They combated the uninviting conditions, and showed character.

As a result of Saturday’s races – which embraced the park and neighbouring golf course – teams will now be selected to represent Harrogate-Craven in the forthcoming North York-shire finals to be held in January at Catterick.

From where the successful athletes will progress to the English Schools finals at Nottingham in March.

Leading positions: Senior Boys: 1 Billy Pinder, Ermysted’s (18.54), 3 Alex Sinclair, Ermysted’s (20.39), 4 Will Crisp, Ermysted’s (20.48), 5 Alex Brown, Settle College (20.57), 6 Matthew Dyson, Ermysted's (21.20).

Senior Girls: 1 Caroline Lambert, St Aidan’s, Harrogate (11.40), 2 Rebecca McLean, Skipton Girls High (12.20), 5 Keira Moulding, Giggleswick (13.46), 6 Ellie Gorman, Giggleswick (14.12).

Intermediate Boys: 1 Ben Daggett, Rossett (13.24), 2 Sam Westcott, Ermy-sted’s (13.43), 4 Oliver Holmes, Giggles-wick (14.02), 6 George Meehan, Ermy-sted’s (14.37).

Intermediate Girls: 1 Emma Megarry, St John Fisher (11.30), 6 Georgia Birley, Giggleswick (13.16).

Year 9 Boys: 1 Thomas Blanchard, Ermysted’s (10.26), 3 Phil Done, Ermy-sted’s (10.59), 6 Lawrence Edwards, Ermysted’s (11.14).

Year 9 Girls: 1 Hannah Heslop, Harrogate Ladies College (9.10), 4 Holly Matthewman, Skipton Girls High (9.25), 6 Sally Handford, Settle College (9.40).

Year 8 Boys: 1 Jamie Poulter, Upper Wharfedale (11.25), 3 Lloyd Hobson-Davies, Giggleswick, (11.46), 4 Robert Thompson, Ermysted’s (11.55), 5 Jack Paul, Ermysted’s (11.56), 6 Will Lawn, Upper Wharfedale (12.15).

Year 8 Girls: 1 Mia Moore, St. Aidan’s (8.44), 4 Elspeth Adamson, Skipton Girls High (9.49), 5 Phoebe Alton, Giggleswick (10.09), 6 Clara Mondragon, Giggleswick (10.12).

Year 7 Boys: 1 Alistair Harvey, Ermysted’s (8.28), 2 Matthew Thompson, Ermysted’s (8.34), 3 Luke Thompson, Ermysted’s (8.41), 5 George Maloney, Ermysted’s (8.57).

Year 7 Girls: 1 Tassy Heslop, Harrogate Ladies College (9.33), 2 Ellamae Gibson, Upper Wharfedale (9.40), 3 Olivia Shaw, Giggleswick (9.57), 5 Allana Jones, Giggleswick (10.09).