York runners produced superb performances at both individual and team level at Saturday's English National Cross Country Championships at Durham.

Over an excellent three lap course incorporating firm running conditions, mud and hills, the men's race produced a thrilling finish with Oppenshaw of Birchfield beating Haughian of Hounslow by one second.

Paul Goble of Nestl was first runner home from York in 172nd place out of a field of 1,227 finishers.

York Acorn men's section again re-wrote their own club's record books with a brilliant 41st placing as Bingley took team honours.

The York Acorn counting six were again Steve Simpson (230th), Martin Kirby (284th), Mike Raynes (430th), Colin Hawxby (492nd) Jerry Barnes (540th) and John Duston (602nd).

Other club finishers were recent recruit Andy Hilton (310st) who ran as a non-team counter, Martin Lawn (735th) and Les Burton (782nd).

Andy Normandale produced a good performance for Nestl in 311th place, with Collett and Wilcox also finishing.

The impressive performances were a positive indicator for the closer links which have been established by Acorn and Nestl for the future.

In the other races Nestl Under 17 girls' team produced York club's team performance of the day by placing ninth, led home by N Griffith in 42nd place.

The under-15 girls' team were 13th with their first runner being R Greaves in 69th.

Acorn now face a busy three week period, racing at Richmond next week, followed by a training weekend in Grasmere and the previously postponed final North Yorkshire/South Durham league cross country race at Saltburn.

York Acorn's Bob Duncan led 14 teammates home and in the Snake Lane ten mile road race at Pocklington he was third veteran and tenth overall in a time of 55 minutes, 15 seconds out of a field of over 600 runners.

Acorn's Colin Utterson was second in the over-55 age category behind Gosforth AC's Mike Walker.

Utterson, 97th overall, clocked 65 minutes 36 seconds. Heather McIntosh was the first woman home for the Acorn club in a personal best time of 76 minutes 11 seconds.

Carl Thackray of Hallamshire won the race knocking one minute off the course record in a time of 49 minutes 48 seconds and Stockport Harriers' Kerrie Wood took the women's title in 69 minutes 32 seconds.

Other Acorn times were: Dave Elliott 69 minutes 10 seconds; Graham Morris 71m 00s; Gerry Orchard 71m 12s; Martin Vickers 72m 01s; Philip Paxman 72m 25s; Geoff Binns 78m 13s; Jim Cowan 81m 59s; Paul Richardson 82m 21s; Julie Hills 83m 21s; Geoffrey Hope 92m 19s; Andrea Edwards 93m 25s; Andy Heppell 94m 01s.

In Harrogate's first Penny Pot 10K road race Acorn's over-55 veteran Colin Utterson clocked 39mins 13secs followed by clubmate Dave Elliott 40mins 20secs. Julie Hills finished in a personal best time of 47mins 59secs.

Updated: 12:54 Tuesday, February 27, 2001