SKYRAC and Spenborough lead the promotion packs in the NORTHERN TRACK AND FIELD LEAGUE.

Skyrac finished third in their home fixture at Princess Mary Stadium, Cleckheaton on July 12.

Another solid performance in the final match at Middlesbrough will reward them with their first second-place finish in the league’s second tier.

On a warm day, a tight match saw bottom-placed club City of York impose a first defeat of the season on Gateshead.

The north-eastern giants are almost assured, though, of the promotion play-off place.

Skyrac’s only challengers, Morpeth, were fifth and will now struggle to overcome the Guiseley-based club.

The provisional match result was: 1st City of York 393pts; 2nd Gateshead Harriers 363pts; 3rd Skyrac 338pts; 4th Middlesbrough Mandale 289pts; 5th Morpeth Harriers 287pts; and 6th North Shields Poly 211pts.

The league positions have Gateshead on 17pts from the three fixtures, Skyrac on 13, Morpeth 11, with three clubs fighting to avoid the two relegation spots: City of York and Middlesbrough both on eight and North Shields Poly on six.

In the top division, Wakefield Harriers have taken over top position from Blackburn, with Kingston-upon-Hull third.

The final match is at home at the Thornes Park track, which may give Wakefield the edge.

In Division Three, with one match of the season remaining, on August 8, Spenborough are in the second promotion spot, behind Trafford AC.

They overhauled Stockport Harriers in their recent match at Bury.

A third-place finish in the last match, conveniently at home, should ensure promotion for the Cleckheaton club.

In the same group, Halifax will be hard pressed to avoid relegation after two bottom-placed finishes.

Spen look likely to replace Bingley Harriers, who are bottom of their Division Two group.

All the second division groups are highly competitive but it is almost impossible for Bingley to overhaul Scunthorpe in fourth.

In Division Four, Bradford-Airedale are making progress up the table with Grimsby and Wombwell adrift.

Their men’s middle-distance competitors are the pick of the division, but with only four women competitors they still struggle to score well in the female half of the events.