CITY of York Athletic Club shone as the West Yorkshire Cross Country League got under way at Thornes Park in Wakefield.

Finnian Hutchinson stormed to victory in the under-15 boys’ race, while Josh Schofield and Rebekah Ward finished fourth in their senior events.

The latter pair’s efforts led the club to third place in the women’s standings and fourth in the men as their partnership with University of York AC bore more fruit.

Ward led a determined charge up the first hill before York Knavesmire Harriers’ Nik Tarrega swept past and took an early lead on the opening lap of the senior women’s race.

Leeds City’s Emma Clayton, however, took a grip on the race going up the climb for the second lap and she was never headed thereafter.

A close battle ensued between the two York runners on the last lap with Ward prevailing by one second to come fourth, completing the 5.75km course in 21 minutes 22 seconds.

A strong debut from Jessica Troy (22-11), who finished 10th, helped City of York to third in the team contest, one place ahead of Knavesmire.

In men’s race over 10km, Schofield stuck with the leaders before finally giving way on the fourth lap of five.

He then engaged in a tough last-lap duel with Holmfirth’s Aaron Kettlewell for third place and first U20s runner, with Kettlewell prevailing by 10 seconds in 32-51.

Toby Fletcher (35-52) was City's next man home in 28th as they took fourth in the team standings, again one place ahead of Knavesmire.

Hutchinson’s U15 boys' victory was his first in the league and came in style, clocking 13-39 clocking for the 4.3km course.

Pulling away at the end of the first of two laps, he finished more than 100 metres clear of second-placed Sam Smith from Wharfedale Harriers.

Tom Hayes came seventh in 14-50 to help City to second in the team event.

York's U17 boys also came second, with Toby Antcliff (20-29), Kyle MacLeay (20-50) and Elliott Hutchinson (20-17) finishing sixth, seventh and eighth respectively over the 5.75km course.

It could have been better had leading U17 runner Josh Dickinson been in action.

But he was in Cardiff, securing an impressive second place in the opening British Athletics Cross Challenge meeting. Dickinson finished just four seconds behind winner Lachlan Wellington, completing the 5.56km course in 15-40.

Also at Thornes Park, City of York’s Millie Anderson (13-58) came fifth in the U15 girls’ race over 3.6km.

Edward Honley (11-03) was seventh in the U13 boys’ event and Lottie Langan (12-01) 10th in the equivalent girls’ race, both over 2.9km.

Georgia Neary (17-40) finished 10th in the 4.3km U17 girls’ event.