KEIGHLEY & Craven have proved to be the county's best junior cross-country club.

The fourth and final race of the West Yorkshire Cross-Country League season took place at Nunroyd Park in Guiseley on Sunday.

The University Academy Keighley-based outfit had top scores in all four under-11 and under-13 girls' races. They were also first, second and second in the under-11, under-13 and under-15 boys (behind City of York in the last two cases).

Indeed, in the under-13s they had three of the four best-ranked girls overall, with Katie Atkinson edging out Halifax's Lucie Hall for gold and followed by clubmates Lucy Fryers and Lilli Carr.

Ilkley were strong in the boys events but also won the under-17 women's league, ahead of Holmfirth and Harrogate, although they are less dominant than in recent years.

Bingley's team performances have dropped off too but Victoria and Matthew Merrick were both second in their under-15 individual age groups, while Alex Flaherty won the under-11 boys overall.

Skyrac, by contrast, are the most improved club in the area. Amy Francis won the final race on home soil to lift the under-15s title, while Eve Jones had a clean sweep in the under-11s. Alex Padgin was runner-up to Lewis Byram of Holmfirth in the under-17s.

In the senior and veterans' age groups, the competition remains fierce. Leeds City beat Valley Striders for the men's title, Spenborough bettered Holmfirth and Bingley for third and Skyrac were a creditable sixth.

In the women's league, Holmfirth were dominant and only Wharfedale (third) and Spenborough (fifth) of the local clubs had full teams in all four races.

Skyrac had been second on the final day, sandwiched between Holmfirth and Wakefield. Nicola Squires (third), Rebecca Cesar de Sa (ninth), Molly Keeffe (21st) and Kyla McCosh (30th) counted.

Lydia Farley (Bradford-Airedale) made her debut in 38th and was a top-ten under-20. Cesar de Sa was over-35s champion, while Ilkley's Sally Malir was best among the over-50s.

Frank Beresford of Otley was second male overall, with Skyrac's Chris Thornton in fourth.

Spen's Kevin Ogden dropped to fourth among the over-40s with a poor final race but Martin Peace was second in the over-45s and Bingley team-mate Peter Ellerton won the over-65s.