CHRIS POULTON and Charlotte Mason secured their second wins of the York & District Road Race League season with strong showings at Easingwold.

Poulton (York Acorn) added a round three victory to his opening race success at Pocklington, while Mason (City of York) made it two women’s wins from two starts.

With runners’ best four races to count, the pair are looking good bets for their respective titles at the halfway point in the 10k series.

Poulton pulled away at the front as the field approached Crayke Hill, but could never relax as a chasing pack of four kept him in their sights.

The Acorn man crossed the line in 34 minutes 41 seconds, with City of York duo George Cook (34.48) and Jack Eggington (34.51) taking the other podium places.

Dan Tate (Selby Striders) was fourth in 34.54, followed by York Knavesmire Harriers’ Peter Pearson (34.59) and Acorn’s Paul Whitaker (35.21).

Mason enjoyed a more comfortable victory in the women’s race, where she clocked 37.24 to finish 30 seconds clear of Knavesmire’s Nik Tarrega.

Tarrega, however, had the consolation of a one-place improvement from last time out at Tadcaster by pushing City of York’s Emma Ballantyne (38.07) into third.

Knavesmire’s Emily Baines was fourth in 38.54, with City of York pair Jessica Troy (39.08) and Katy Wood (40.15) completing the top six.

Whitaker was the leading Vet 40 man on the night, followed by Acorn clubmate John Yoward (35.49) and Pocklington’s Richard Ginn (36.31).

York Triathlon’s Ian Martin (37.33) secured his first V50 win of the series, ahead of Pickering’s Simon Jones (38.35) and Tadcaster Harriers’ Stephen King (39.29).

Acorn’s Stephen Boynton (40.30) made it three successive V60 men’s victories this season, finishing well clear of clubmates David Lancaster (42.32) and David Muckersie (42.58).

The V70 podium remained unchanged for a third race running as Pickering’s Michael Hetherton (48.54) headed Knavesmire’s David l’Anson (54.37) and Acorn’s Mike Tasker (57.21).

Easingwold’s Samantha Davies (40.54) topped the V35 women’s standings, followed by Knavesmire’s Lucy Pinder (41.39) and Pocklington’s Katie Wise (42.01).

Knavesmire’s Anna Blackwell (42.34) made it three V45 women’s wins in a row, with Acorn’s Sharon Lynn (44.43) and Katharine Jeffreys (45.11), another Knavesmire runner, completing the top three.

Knavesmire’s Jet Jon Shepherd (46.40) has also now secured three straight wins in her V55 women’s age group, which saw her clubmate Jane Nodder (51.45) take third behind Easingwold’s Jane Cowley (51.24).

There was an all Knavesmire podium in the V65 women’s category, thanks to Mary Farmery (53.28), Liz Piper (59.55) and Susan Adams (1.18.18).

Acorn’s men continued their improvement to take the team honours ahead of Knavesmire and City of York.

In the women’s team event, City of York headed Knavesmire for a second race running, with Pocklington third.