MUD, mud, glorious mud was the subtext of the Thirsk and Sowerby Harriers' virtual cross country at Alan Wikeley's Knayton farm. Will his fields ever recover?

Thank you to Alan and Margaret for the use of their fields, and with Rob Burn for measuring out a suitable two lap course. As ever, the course could be run over any of four days, and 72 members and guests availed themselves of the opportunity. Andrew Price was fastest over the three-plus mile route, finishing in an amazing 22.52 minutes, with Matt Jones second in 24.41, Rob Burn third in 25.18, Stephan Tomaszewski fourth in 25.24, Paul Peacock fifth in 25.30, Joseph Lofthouse sixth in 25.58, Gary Bastow seventh in 26.52, Alan Simpson eighth in 27.18, David Fawkes ninth in 28.31 and Mike Lowther tenth in 28.47.

Also finishing were Andy Butcher, Marc Davies, Pedro Carrasco, Richard Morrice, Adrian Saunders, Gary Wilkinson, Rob Lickley, David Tervit, Brett Edgeworth, Geoff Bullock, Duncan Fothergill, Ken Evitt, Dave Baker, Joe Joyce, James Stephenson, Chris Wordsworth, Steve Billings, Paul Goacher, Mike Cropper (nursing an injury), Paul Adams, Nigel Morgan, Phillip Craig, Martyn Coy, Alan Wikeley and Ian Codling.

Right up among the front runners was once again Esther Harrison, first lady and in eighth overall place, in a time of 26.12. Trudie Morrice was second lady, tenth overall, in 27.54, with Lorraine Hiles third, and 13th overall, in 29.07. Helen Ashworth came fourth in 31.10, Rosie Gatenby fifth in 31.36, Hilary Coventry sixth in 31.48, Louise Mayfield seventh in 32.13, Kirsty Naylor eighth in 33.15, Jill Libby ninth in 34.02, and Trish Radford tenth in 34.57. Other finishers were Tracey Lowther, Clare Tempest, Stephanie Hawkins, Joanne Hunt, Liz Wordsworth (running in borrowed shoes as hers fell apart before she tried to run), Fiona Bellas, Alison Butcher, Margaret Wikeley, Kimberli Werner, Christine Burn, Sarah Goacher – in her first ever cross country (what an introduction), Sharon Keegan, Pat Kirby, Faith Coy, Liz Stephenson and Marian Coy. The Coy children, Lilly, 13 and Reuben, 11, accompanied their parents and overcame all the mud.

A wonderful effort from everyone in the penultimate club championship race.