IT might have been Blue Monday this week, but there was no cause for the blues last weekend as the Airecentre Pacers set out to compete in the fourth PECO cross-country race of the season, which took place at Crimple Valley in Harrogate.

The junior races started first, and the next generation was proving strong. Airecentre Pacers' Evie Walker ran in the Junior one-mile race, coming 10th in her age category in a fantastic time of 10 minutes and 12 seconds for the challenging course.

After four races Evie now holds eighth place in her league category (girls in school years 2-4).

The chilly, damp mist was starting to lift as the starting gun for the senior race was fired and hundreds of keen runners thundered down the first hill.

The technical 4.5-mile course was varied and wound its way around muddy fields, through woods and had an uphill finish.

The men’s team now holds fourth place in the PECO league division after four races, with Andrew Humphries leading the Pacers' team in a time of 28 minutes and 19 seconds.

Chris Hill also had a strong run, coming in an impressive 13th in his age category in a time of 38 minutes and 54 seconds; as did Richard Walker, who achieved 16th in his age category in a speedy 30 minutes and eight seconds.

The rest of the men’s team included Owain Gwilym (30:41), William Woodhead (34:23), Tom Gifford (34:43), Paul Grindley (34:51), Graeme Cowling (35:07), Graham Turner (37:13) and Simon Walker (46:07).

The women’s team is now in sixth place in the league after four races.

Kate Macfarlane led in the ladies in an excellent time of 34 minutes and 51 seconds, closely followed by Sally Haigh in 35 minutes and 7 seconds.

Sally achieved fourth place in her age category, meaning she holds on to first place in her age category in the PECO league.

Francesca Gatenby was 12th in her age category in a time of 36 minutes and 49 seconds.

The rest of the women’s team all finished well, and included Helen Waite (41:12), Amy Llewellyn (42:36), Lynda Parkinson (43:03), Claire Hunter (43:38) and Carole Keighley (48:11).