Record turnouts of a 1,000 runners led to congestion at the finishes in the opening races of the two local cross-country leagues.

In Leeds' Temple Newsam Park, 738 juniors and seniors competed in the 20-team Peco League, and 254 from ten clubs were at Dewsbury for the opener of the West Yorkshire Winter League.

The 651 entering the senior Peco race, together with introducing a new numbering system, led to delays at the start and having to move the finish as the finishing funnel became clogged.

Simon Pass made a welcome return with a fine seventh for Saltaire Striders. Several guests and second-claimers took the first four spots, with Colin Walker (Pudsey & Bramley) next.

Pete Hopson (Bradford-Airedale) chased Pass to ninth place, with clubmate Gerard Mills performing excellently in 20th.

Saltaire captain Will Kerr will have been pleased to finish 11th, with Andy Bedford 17th as Saltaire try to outperform their third place in last year's Premier Division.

The attraction of these cross-countries is a combination of the trail-running conditions and the supportive atmosphere between the runners.

Henry Heaviside (Ilkley) said of the course: "It had something for everyone, with hills for the fell runners, hard gravel paths for the road runners and sufficient mud for those who like that."

Saltaire's Sarah Bruckshaw tweeted: "Big thanks to the lovely lady from Wetherby who kept me going towards the end when I was all out of energy."

It didn't stop Bruckshaw nipping into the funnel in 207th, ahead of Wetherby's Jo Keenan.

Wetherby had the first two lady finishers: Pauline Munro and Lisa Mawer. Rachel Pilling (Pudsey & Bramley) was close behind, with Saltaire's Jen Willingham in 17th.

Meanwhile, at Dewsbury, Skipton's Julian Hood was a fine second, behind Stainland's Gavin Mulholland. Quentin Lewis (Baildon) beat Chris Williams (Queensbury) for third.

Pudsey Pacers trio Nigel Armitage, Darren Burnley and James Clark filled three of the next four places.

This was not enough to prevent Stainland beating Pudsey for first team on the day. New club Stadium Runners from Huddersfield performed well to finish fifth, between a much-improved Skipton and Baildon.