EMMA Ballantyne and Stuart Grange boosted their York & District Road Race League title hopes with victories in round three at Easingwold.

City of York Athletic Club's Ballantyne secured her third successive win in the ladies’ race, so needs just one victory from the remaining three rounds to be crowned champion of the 10k series.

Grange, of Knavesmire Harriers, now has two wins and one runner-up spot and, having finished half a minute clear in the last two rounds, he will take some catching.

Last year’s ladies' series runner-up, Charlotte Mason, went up against club-mate Ballantyne for the first time this season, but the latter produced her fastest time of the summer to bag victory.

Her 37 minutes 37 seconds clocking put Ballantyne in 26th place overall, with Mason recording 38-02.

Victoria Sewell (Knavesmire) edged out Jessica Troy (City of York) in a sprint finish for third place, with both being timed at 38-52.

Two more Knavesmire runners, Sarah Attwood (39-35) and Nik Tarrega (39-41), completed the women’s top six.

Attwood was the top vet-35 woman for a third race in succession, with Easingwold’s Samantha Davies (40-56) and Knavesmire’s Lucy Pinder (41-06) taking the other podium spots.

York Acorn’s Jullie Lawn (45-58) made it three wins from three in the vet-45 category, heading home Easingwold’s Sheila Capper (46-24) and Pickering’s Debbie Rycroft (50-35).

Knavesmire’s Jet Jon Shepherd (46-42) edged out Acorn’s Gill Boynton (46-43) by one second in the vet-55 age group, while Knavesmire’s Jane Nodder (46-54) was not far behind.

In the vet-65 ranks, Knavesmire’s Mary Farmery (54-12), also claimed a third victory, ahead of clubmate Liz Piper (58-01).

Men’s runner-up Chris Poulton (Acorn) fought hard to stay with Grange, but the Harriers ace powered away in the second half to clock 33-49.

Poulton (34-18) finished 18 seconds ahead of the consistent Gareth Green (Knavesmire), while City of York’s George Cook (34-57) had to be content with a third successive fourth place.

Paul Whitaker (Acorn), the 2015 men’s champion, was fifth in 35-12, ahead of Knavesmire’s Russell Bowry (35-32).

Green and Whitaker occupied the first two vet-40 places, with Pocklington’s Stuart Smith (36-08) completing the podium.

There was a close contest for the vet-50 men’s honours, with Barry Atkinson (38-29) holding off Knavesmire clubmate Neil Strange (38-35) and Easingwold’s Steve Loseby (38-37).

Acorn’s Steve Boynton (40-32) topped the vet 60 age group, ahead of Easingwold’s Howard Thompson (41-43) and Knavesmire’s John Iredale (42-50).

Pocklington’s Keith Oliver (47-46) headed up the vet-70 division, with Tadcaster’s Norman Miller (50-34) second and Acorn’s Michael Tasker (58-34) third.

Knavesmire again took the men’s and women’s team honours, ahead of City of York in both categories. Acorn were the third men’s team, with Pocklington taking that spot among the women.

Meanwhile, the Ripon 10-mile race proved a good hunting ground for Knavesmire Harriers, the men winning the team prize there too.

The undulating race was won by Leeds City's Andrew Grant in 58 minutes 30 seconds, and the ladies' race by York Tri's Helen Cross in 63 minutes.

First home for the Mire was Richard Purser in 63 minutes for sixth place and third in the 30 age category, followed by Neil Everett in 66 and Andy Holliday in 70.

Club-mates Sarah Attwood (72 minutes) and Natalie Greaves (74 minutes) were second and third respectively in the ladies' 30 category, while John Oliver (77 minutes) was second in men's 60, and Jane Nodder (83 minutes) was second in ladies' 50.

Other Knavesmire finishers: Darren Hendley 1 hour 11 minutes, Neil Strange 1-12, Nick Griffin 1-14, Kate Smith 1-16, Tim Cowham 1-16, Ewan Cochrane 1-18, Stephen Robson 1-19, Andrew Clark 1.24, Qin Zhou 1-27, David Darton 1-27, Ellie Page 1-29, Anna Marshall 1-29, John Nodder 1-23, Vicky Green 1-23, Alaistair McQueen 1-31, Dan Taylor 1-33, Alan Wilkinson 1-34, Jane Morby 1-36,Adrian Tear 1-36, Andrew Hazlehurst 1-37, Terrence Bromfield 1-40, Liz Matthews 1-41, Catlin Rushby 1-41, Colin Lea 1-52, Chris Harrison 1-45, Sam Lyth, Jayne Fligg 1-58, Deborah Kerr 2-05, Sue Adams 2-22 and Paul Adams 2-22.

Harriers' David Smithers clocked a good time of one hour 19 minutes in the Leeds Half Marathon to finish a second Male 45. There were other personal best times for Knavesmire with Chris Lancaster clocking 1-37, Hayley Clough 1-43 and Andy Bonsey 1-50.