WITH Thirsk & Sowerby Harriers entered for the York Brass Monkey half marathon and the latest cross-country event ko’d by the big freeze, cyclo cross took centre stage.

Thirsk’s Noel Clough finished third in the open category in the North-east League event on the banks of the River Wear at the university cricket ground in Durham. Pete Wilkin, in his first race for ages after illness, was first finisher in the V50 category.

Clough’s show followed his tenth V40 placing in the national championships at Peel Park, Bradford.

Fran Jeffery, always on the lookout for a challenge, finished the gruelling Hardmoor 30. Startingd and finishing at Ravenscar, the 30-mile course took in Robin Hood’s Bay, Whitby and Boggle Hole.