BEN Jones and Helen Cross maintained their dominant starts to the York and District Road Race League with victories at Tadcaster.

Jones and Cross made it two wins from two in the 10km series and there was only one change among the podium places from the opening round at Pocklington.

Cross (York Triathlon Club) again had a comfortable victory in the women’s race, leading home City of York pair Charlotte Mason and Emma Ballantyne in second and third respectively.

Jones (University of York) finished nine seconds clear at the end of a competitive men’s race but Oliver Cockerill (City of York) took second from Phil Elliott-Dick (York Knavesmire Harriers) after the latter pushed him into third at Pocklington.

The trio had been locked together at the halfway point, but Jones’ greater strength told in the closing stages as he crossed the line in 33mins 56secs.

Having battled wind and rain in round one, sunny conditions made for faster times over the undulating course.

Cockerill clocked 34.05 to Elliott Dick’s 34.14, with George Cook (University of York) a distant fourth place in 35.00.

Cross, who is bidding for a third league title, finished 17th overall in 36.46, with Mason (37.36) seeing off Ballantyne (38.00).

Elliott-Dick was again the leading vet 40 man, with Tadcaster Harriers’ Glen Johnson (37.56) taking the vet 50 honours on his home course.

The top vet 60 runner, York Acorn’s Christopher Copland, clocked 38.34, with clubmate Michael Tasker leading the vet 70 men home in 52.26.

Cross was also the leading vet 35 woman, but the top vet 55 woman, Dawn Gibbs, was faster than any vet 45 athletes on show.

Gibbs clocked 42.08, with her York Acorn clubmate Julie Lawn taking the vet 45 spoils in 43.26.

Pocklington Runners’ Kathryn Taylor headed the vet 65 women’s finishers in 55.15.

Knavesmire’s strength in depth showed as their men and women were again the leading teams on the night, ahead of City of York - and they already look favourites to defend their titles.