YORK Acorn runners have qualified for the National Six Stage Relay Championships for the first time in the club's 20-year history.

They clinched their coveted place at the nationals in Birmingham later this month by qualifying via the Northern Championships held over a four-mile course at Sefton Park in Liverpool.

Paul Goble was Acorn's dominant runner, setting the club off in 20th place from the 70 competing teams in a time of 20 minutes and four seconds.

Andy Hilton clocked 21-06 for the second leg, Mike Raynes 22-19 for the third; Bob Duncan 21-36 for the fourth and Andy Burt 21-17 for the fifth.

That left Steve Simpson to anchor the side and worked through to 26th place in a well judged 21-20.

The club's overall position was adjusted to 23rd after the exclusion of three other club's 'B' teams who, although placed higher than Acorn, were ineligible to compete in the nationals.

An under-strength Knavesmire Harriers just missed out on qualification after finishing 34th - four places outside a place in the finals.

Andy Bissell led Knavesmire off with 21-14, Neil Strange then clocked 21-02, which was to be the Harriers's fastest leg of the day.

Triathlon specialist Phil Dick did 22-13, Dave Chippett 21-32 and Ian Anderson, who is more used to representing Great Britain in 100-kilometre events recorded 21-44.

Barry Atkinson (22-04) ran the anchor leg as Knavesmire totalled 2hours 9mins 49secs.

Salford Harriers were the winners with 1-5500 for the 24 miles.

Knavesmire's women enjoyed more team success in the Horsforth 10K. Chris Shouksmith (40-25) won the Over-45 prize, with Fiona Strange (41-48) winning the O35 section. Collectively with Veronica Mackley (44-53) they won the women's team award.

Birchfield Harrier Julian Moorhouse (31-43) won the men's race with Darlington's Alison Raw (38-30) the first woman home.

Knavesmire's Giles Hawking (36-55) was the first York runner home in 27th place in a field of 517.

Other Knavesmire finishers were: Darrell Moore (39-16), Steve Mackley (40-17), Andy Neale (44-11),Peter Schofield (45-50), Mark Sullivan (46-49), Alison Mortimer (49-01) and Kevin East (52-39).

Updated: 11:55 Thursday, October 03, 2002