Hallamshire and Rotherham athletes in the mix at Ripon event

South Yorkshire athletes will be prominent in the Yorkshire Cross Country Championships at Lightwater Valley, Ripon, on Saturday. Â
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In the men's race Leeds City's Emile Cairess seeks a hat trick of wins and his team should retain their team title. Rotherham and Hallamshire, second and third last year, will likely fight it out for second and third team medals. Steve Bayton, bronze medallist last year, heads the Hallamshire challenge and they have a solid squad. Although their number one runner Andy Heyes is listed in their team, he intends to race indoors during January and February and has asked for a discretionary place in the Yorkshire team for the Inter Counties Cross Country Championship in March. Rotherham, led by Dan Kestrel last year, have virtually all last year's team running again plus Oxford Blue Luke Cotter. It is difficult to see anyone beating Leeds City for the women's title with last year's medallists Hallamshire and Rotherham battling for the minor medals again. Rotherham look the stronger this time even though not all of their formidable squad are eligible for the Yorkshire race. Natasha Hatswell led them home last year in fifth place and could challenge for an individual medal this time. Alice Moore (Barnsley AC) defends her under 20 women's title with Rotherham's Cyane Robinson a contender whilst last year's under 15 girls winner Jodie Hill moves up to the under 17 age group where she leads a strong Hallamshire team. Top two in last year's under 13 girls race were Hallamshire duo Ruby Simpson and Annie Naylor. They are now in the under 15 section and are again expected to be prominent both individually and in the team race. Barnsley AC have a talented trio of under 13 boys, Sonnyboy Hughes, Jonson Hughes and Ben Nutter and they must have a chance of landing the title. The Yorkshire teams for the Inter Counties Championships will be selected after the meeting. * Sheffield's EIS is the venue for the English Indoor Combined Events Championship for seniors and under 20 athletes this weekend. John Lane (City of Sheffield and Dearne) with a best score of 5982 is favourite to win the heptathlon title whilst his Sheffield team mates Joe Hobson and Deo Milandu, as well as Doncaster's Aiden Davies are also in the line up. Rotherham's Amy Hodgson is in the women's pentathlon. The meeting incorporates the Northern Championship. On the second day of the meeting The British Milers Club are organising a series of races over 800, 1500 and 3000 metres.