EMMA BALLANTYNE sealed the York & District Road Race League women’s title with a dominant victory in the final round at Wistow.

Ballantyne (City of York) won her fourth race of the 10k series by almost two minutes in hot conditions to take the title in style.

Ian Ellwood (York Postal Harriers) secured his second straight victory in the men’s category but, having only completed three races, did not feature in the final standings.

With runners’ best four races counting, Ballantyne’s wins at Pocklington, Tadcaster, Easingwold and Wistow mean she took the title six points ahead of clubmate Jessica Troy. York Knavesmire Harriers’ Victoria Sewell finished third, a further two points back.

On the night, Ballantyne clocked 37 minutes 54 seconds, with Nik Tarrega (Knavesmire) runner-up in 39-51.

Already Vet 35 women’s champion, Knavesmire’s Sarah Attwood came home third in 40-38.

Lucy Pinder (Knavesmire) was the second Vet 35 woman across the line in 41-19, followed by Pocklington’s Katie Wise in 43-16.

The first three Vet 45 women home at Wistow matched the category’s final standings, with York Acorn’s Julie Lawn (44-50) taking the spoils from Easingwold’s Sheila Capper (46-48) and Pocklington’s Alison Thornton (47-02).

Knavesmire’s Jet Jon Shepherd (46-05) was the leading Vet 55 lady, which meant she finished tied for first place in the standings with Acorn’s Gill Boynton, who was second on the night in 46-33.

Jane Nodder (Knavesmire) was third home in 49-14 and also finished there in the series.

The Vet 65 women’s result also matched the series standings, with Knavesmire’s Mary Farmery (53-41) first, ahead of Pocklington’s Kathryn Taylor (56-42). Liz Piper (Knavesmire) was third in 1-11-35.

Ellwood had won round five at Bishop Wilton by more than 30 seconds but this time edged out Gareth Green (Knavesmire) by a far smaller margin.

The York Postal runner clocked 34-33 to Green’s 34-37, while Acorn’s Paul Whitaker was a further six seconds behind.

Stuart Grange (Knavesmire) and Chris Poulton (Acorn), who had already secured first and second places in the series, did not race at Wistow, but Green’s runner-up spot helped him finish a clear third overall.

Selby Striders’ Ian Robertson (36-51) was the third Vet 40 man home, but, although absent, Pocklington’s Stuart Smith had already secured that spot in the series.

Pocklington’s Darren Ball (38-44) took the Vet 50 spoils on the night and in so doing secured third place in the series behind Glen Johnson (Tadcaster) and Neil Strange (Knavesmire).

Easingwold’s Mark Whiteman (39-09) and Acorn’s John Cooper (39-39) completed the podium at Wistow.

Acorn’s David Lancaster (41-38) saw off Vet 60 rival, Easingwold’s Howard Thompson (41-45), which ensured the former took second in the series, ahead of the latter.

Champion Steve Boynton (Acorn) did not race, while Pickering’s Paul Robinson (42-07) was third on the night.

Pickering’s Michael Hetherton (47-57) was the first Vet 70 man home as he sealed the series title.

Knavesmire’s David l’Anson (52-49) was second ahead of Acorn’s Michael Tasker (56-27), but these places were reversed in the overall standings.

Knavesmire won both team competitions with a race to spare, but Acorn’s strong finish meant they finished joint-second in the men’s category with City of York.

Behind Knavesmire in the women’s event were City of York and Pocklington.

Meanwhile, Knavesmire Harriers' Katie Smith continued her good form with a second-placed finish in the Whorlton six-mile race with a time of 53 minutes 22 seconds. The returning Janet Cordinley produced a 67-14.

In the men’s race, Simon Collins finished fourth as the first Harrier home with a time of 46-27 followed by Richard Purser in sixth (47-36), Giles Hawking 13th (49-44) and Andrew Johnson as first Male 60 (57-51).

In the 21-mile, 9,100ft-climb Buttermere Horseshoe fell race, Knavesmire's Barry Atkinson finished 175th in five hours 58 minutes and Chris Roberts 185th in 6-01.

Mire's finishers in the Humber Bridge Half Marathon were Natalie Graves (one hour 36 minutes), Abbie Salvation (1-46), Hope Ramsden (1-47), Lynette Banks (2-23) and Alan Priestman (2-24).