ERMYSTED’S and Skipton Girls High School made the most of home advantage in the North Yorkshire round of the English Schools Cross Country Cup at Aireville Park.

Ermysted’s won the junior and intermediate boys team events and Skipton clinched the equivalent girls titles.

Ermysted’s juniors (Year 7/8) were the most impressive winners with Harvey Lewis, Louis Hudson and Alex Thompson leading the way towards the front of the cavalry-charge start.

Just behind were Sebastian Seggar-Staveley, Joe Carnelley and Charlie Wood striving to be fourth counter and as close to the front as possible.

As the runners started the second lap the positions settled down and Ermysted’s had three runners in the top five.

Lewis finished second with Hudson third and Thompson fourth. Wood was the final counting team member in sixth as Ermysted’s finished with an impressive total of 15 points.

Their team is really strong as Seggar-Staveley was 12th and Joe Carnelley 19th. Guests Arthur Peel and Will Atkinson also ran strongly.

Skipton Girls High School juniors were better placed in many respects as Lilly Carr, Alice Jones and Ruby Firth filled all of the medal places.

Carr has had incredible start to the year as she had previously won and led her school team to victory at Bingley and at the English Schools’ Fell Championships at Mytholmroyd.

Their final scorer, Lucy Fryers, came in tenth for a total of 16 points and a clear victory. Interestingly Skipton's winning score at this stage last year was 15 points and they went on to win the national title, so they will have high hopes at Bedford in December. Amy Beanlands and Freya Mitchel were the non-scorers in 16th and 37th.

Ermysted’s intermediates were also impressive. Tom Barrett and Sam Jackson fought hard behind Harrogate Grammar’s runaway leader Giggleswick’s Euan Brennan.

That meant third for Barrett but with Jackson in fourth and Ben Jackson quickly returning to form in sixth, Ermysted’s had a great start in the team competition.

Matthew Kenneth, after a season of just swimming, is getting back into his running and came back 11th for a team total of just 24 points.

Jonny Thompson and Will Thompson were just behind in 17th and 19th with guest Laurie Petrucci well inside the top half of finishers.

The intermediates team contained most of the runners that actually won on the national stage for Skipton Girls High School last year.

Katie Atkinson again led their charge and looked a likely winner but was overhauled on the final climb and had to take a close second place.

She showed a good return to form though and has the prospect of another good season ahead of her.

Emily Jones is building on a good season over the fells. She ran well for fourth place with Angelina Bairstow having a great run in seventh. Their final counter was Eleanor Root in 12th for a total of 25 points.

This tied with St Aidans but Skipton won on countback as they completed their team first. Their non-scorers were Ruby Schofield in 25th and Katie Barber in 46th.