A blustery Thornes Park in Wakefield welcomed over 600 competitors fighting for team and individual plaudits in the fourth and final race of the West Yorkshire Cross-Country League.

Despite the steepest hill of the 2012 series, relatively even conditions underfoot offered some faster running, although even the fittest runners among the senior men may have tired of the climb by the end of lap five.

James Walsh (Leeds) took the men's league title, holding off team-mate Alan Buckley on the day.

Tom Adams (Ilkley), returning to full fitness after a stress fracture, was a commendable sixth, while  Colin Walker (Pudsey & Bramley) defied illness in 11th, taking the M40 title.

Matt John (Otley), Nick Howard (Skyrac), Andy Brown (Bingley) and Kevin Ogden (Spenborough) took 14th to 17th places for local clubs, while Stuart MacDonald (Bingley) won the M45 category.

Leeds dominated the club competition but Wharfedale's strength in depth throughout the series clinched second ahead of Pudsey & Bramley (fourth) and Bingley Harriers (fifth).

Katie Walshaw (Holmfirth) lost her unbeaten record on the day, but third was enough for the league title.

Jo Buckley took fourth for Bingley and first F35 overall. Helen Glover was seventh for Keighley and Alex Bell (Pudsey & Bramley) collected the junior title in tenth.

Gill Myers (Wharfedale) was first F50 overall. Holmfirth took the club title, with Skyrac and Pudsey & Bramley completing the top three.

James Hall (Wharfedale) and Georgia Malir (Ilkley) won the under-17 league titles with strong race victories.

Hall eeked out a 12-second advantage over Kieron Savage (Leeds), and Malir was an imposing 40 seconds clear of Rebecca Firth (Wakefield).

Skyrac's promise in the junior age groups took them to second overall in the under-13 boys and under-11 and under-13 girls.

In the latter category, the club were first on the day, led home by Amy Francis and Pauline Hall. Ethan Hussey won the under-11 race on the day, and was second overall.

For Bingley, Emile Cairess was runner up in the under-15 boys on the day and overall, while a matching race position for Victoria Merrick made her first under-13 overall.