A LEADING York schools athlete plans to unwrap an early birthday present.

Manor School pupil Alistair Smith hopes to triumph in a charity Chariots of Fire-style sprint in York.

The 800m AAAs champion is 15 just three days after the September 13 npower dash around a specially measured 430-metre course at Dean's Park next to York Minster.

Runners will be out to beat the Minster's noon chimes in an event based on the famous quadrangle scene in the Oscar-winning film 'Chariots Of Fire' at Trinity College, Cambridge.

To beat the chimes, runners will need to clock 63 seconds and Smith has become the latest athlete set to take part in the challenge.

The Nestle Rowntree AC runner won AAA's silver at the indoor championships at the beginning of the year but topped that this summer by winning gold at the same event at the outdoor championships.

He joins club-mate Richard Buck and Steve Blagdon (Lincoln Wellington AC) among the invited field of six who will endeavour to beat the chimes.

Buck, the former Lady Lumley's School, Pickering, pupil is the English Schools Under-17 400m champion, while Blagdon, a leading 100m and 200m sprinter, will be going for a treble having already won similar chimes dashes at Lincoln and Lichfield this year.

Kevin Wilson, of organisers Sport 1st Enterprises, said: "To have Alistair Smith in the race undoubtedly adds to the quality of the field. He is young and exceptionally talented over 800m and that should make him an outstanding contender for the dash title. "

The build-up to the npower dash, which includes a high jump demonstration from Great Britain Olympian Geoff Parsons, starts from 10.30am in Deans Park and everyone is welcome to attend.

There will also be children's races, adult mile races and special relay races to raise money for the Martin House Children's Hospice.

The first two races at Lincoln in June and Lichfield in July attracted big crowds.

Schools sport is compiled by Peter Wilmott.

Updated: 14:09 Wednesday, September 03, 2003