Simon Pass won Sunday’s final Peco Cross-Country League race, organised by his own Saltaire Striders club at Northcliffe Park.

He covered the five-mile two-lap course across the playing fields and woods in 30min 15sec, beating Colin Walker (Pudsey & Bramley) by almost 100 yards.

Walker headed a chasing group of six, with Pass’s team-mates Will Kerr and Andy Bedford in fourth and fifth respectively.

Saltaire thereby finished third in the men’s Premier Division, as Valley Striders beat local north Leeds rivals Abbey to the title by the narrowest of margins.

Ilkley Harriers were relegated on the last day after poor turnouts in the final events.

Saltaire did win the men’s vets league, and with several excellent recruits have their sights on overall victory next year.

Several young guest runners took part – Emile Caress (Bingley) in eighth, James Hall (Wharfedale) tenth and Wakefield’s Annabel Mason as first lady in 22nd.

Airecentre Pacers’ Will Morris ran brilliantly for 11th spot, while Claire Hern led Eccleshill Road Runners’ ladies to an excellent third place in Division One on the day.

On the same day, at Stainland, Baildon Runners concluded the West Yorkshire Winter League season with a best-ever third place. They overhauled Leeds-Bradford Triath-lon in the final event, largely thanks to an excellent women’s performance. Among their men, Quentin Lewis was second fastest.

Skipton improved greatly this season, close behind LBT in fifth. Queensbury RC finished eighth, with a stronger women’s team, alongside their excellent vets’ scorers. Apart from a weak first event, they would have challenged Dewsbury for sixth.

Peco League Men’s Premier: 1 Valley Striders 11pts; 2 Abbey Runners 11.5; 3 Saltaire 14; 4 Rothwell 23, 5 St Theresa’s (Leeds) 29; 6 Hyde Park 30; 7 Kirkstall 32; 8 Ilkley 32.5; 9 Ackworth 41.

First Division: 1 Harrogate & York Tri-Club 7; 2 Horsforth 9; 3 Chapel Allerton 17; 4 Wetherby 18; 5 Harrogate Harriers 24; 6 Kippax 32; 7 Eccleshill 34; 8 Airecentre 42; 9 Pudsey & Bramley 47; 10 Bradford-Airedale 48; 11 Wharfedale 52.

Peco Ladies Premier: 1 Abbey 11; 2 Kirkstall 14; 3 Horsforth 16; 4 Saltaire 24; 5 Valley 25; 6 Wetherby 27; 7 Hyde Park 34; 8 Rothwell 36; 9 Chapel Allerton 38.

First Division: 1 Ackworth 7; 2 Harrogate & York Tri 16; 3 St Theresa’s 16; 4 Ilkley 18; 5 Eccleshill 27; 6 Kippax 32; 7 Harrogate 32; 8 Airecentre 32; 9 Pudsey & Bramley 45; 10 Wharfedale 51; 11 Bradford-Airedale 53.

Winter League: 1 Stainland Lions 8417pts; 2 Pudsey Pacers 8096; 3 Baildon 7318; 4 LBT 7141; 5 Skipton 7056; 6 Dewsbury 6881; 7 Stadium Runners (Huddersfield) 6560; 8 Queensbury 6491; 9 Craven Energy Tri-club 4872; 10 Idle AC 3870.