Competing for the U13 boys, George Skirrow and Ryan Thorne formed part of the initial leading group jostling for control of the race.

Positions were decided in the second half, with just Ryan and George playing cat and mouse for fourth and fifth position.

Ryan proved to have the stronger legs on the day, holding George off in the final 100m to take fourth.

Running from the fast pack with a 1min 10sec handicap, the Harrier's final counter, Joseph Mallen, held his pace right through to the finish, ensuring that Alnwick's U13 Boy's team tied joint second, with Gosforth on 34 points, beaten only by Chester-le-Street.

Unfortunately, Alnwick were unable to field a complete U13 Girls team. Nevertheless, both Yasmine Shafiq and 'fast-packer' Alix Eastham both put in solid runs to finish 14th and 28th respectively.

The next cross country fixture is the North Eastern Counties Cross Country Championships at Wrekenton on Saturday, December 13.

Full Alnwick Juniors results:

U13 Boys: Ryan Thorne (4th) 10:20; George Skirrow (5th) 10:26; Joseph Mallen (Fast Pack 25th) 11:11. U13 Girls: Yasmine Shafiq (14th) 10:57; Alix Eastham (Fast Pack 28th) 12:38.