A NUMBER of Craven athletes represented North Yorkshire in a Northern Schools’ Inter-County Cross-Country match against Cumbria, Durham, Northumberland and Cleveland at Barnard Castle School.

Many of the runners were aiming for the two remaining berths in next month's English Schools’ Championship

Pride of place on Saturday went to Ermysted’s Joe Hudson whose fourth place meant he just missed out on a medal but he did lead his North Yorkshire under-18s to victory in the team event.

Craven College’s Matthew Merrick in eighth, Ermysted’s Tom Barrett ninth and Sam Jackson 18th were among their team’s scorers.

Barrett’s performances earned him selection for the English Schools’ Championships.

North Yorkshire won two other team titles as both the boys and girls won in the under-12 age group.

Ermysted’s Freddie Marsh was Craven’s only runner and was North Yorkshire’s final counter in 19th as he clinched a place in the team for the English Schools event.

Ermysted’s had four runners in the under-14 boys team. Alex Thompson was 22nd and Jath Lee 29th helped their team finish as runners-up. Lee also gained one of the two spots still up for grabs for the English Schools’ race.

Ben Rees was 39th with Will Atkinson 64th. Ermysted’s athletes also helped the under-16 team to finish third as Joe Carnelley came in 18th with Arthur Peel 36th and Will Thompson 43rd.

Skipton Girls High School were well represented in the under-14 race as Alice Jones had a good run to take fourth place.

Emma Peel 36th and Mia Petrucci 60th followed her home. Alice’s sister Emily Jones, also of Skipton Girls, was the only Craven representative in the under-16 age group and she ran really well for 13th place.

There were three Craven athletes in the under-18 Women’s race with the Giggleswick pair of Eve Hutchinson 25th. and Charlotte Morris 38th were joined by Craven College’s Vicki Merrick who was 50th.