Georgia Malir was Ilkley Harriers’ star performer in the Northern Cross Country Championships at Liverpool.

The talented teenager stormed to victory in the under-17 women’s race, an amazing achievement considering the standard of the competition.

To crown a great day for the Harriers, they had some good team placings too.

The under-13 girls were 15th while the under-15s took 12th position on a day when the organisers provided a good course for racing.

One junior who deserves special praise is Josie Clarke who lost her shoe near the beginning of her race but carried on to finish.

That incident summed up the determination the juniors have.

In the senior men’s race Dave Westhead put in a strong performance as he clocked 51:50 to take 171st position in a field of 583.

This was 12km of classic cross-country terrain, with runners forced to negotiate ankle deep, soft slushy snow which Westhead described as “a bit like running in a World War One trench.”

Jim Ryder also braved the conditions and finished just over a minute behind Westhead in 52:59 in 201st place.

Ilkley results: Senior men: 171 Dave Westhead 51:50, 201 Jim Ryder 52:59, 583 finished.

Under-17 women: 1 Georgia Malir.
Under-15 boys: 67 Tom Kerr, 84Ruaridh Mon-Williams.
Under-15 girls: 33 Lucy Williamson, 66 Lucy Jacques, 77 Joanne Williamson, 96 Elizabeth Westhead, 102 Ellie Coones, 117 Josie Clarke;
Under-13 girls: 26 Francis Westhead, 101 Robbie Matthews.
Under-13 girls: 104 Alessandra Ricci, 109 Molly Jeffels, 110 Eva Jeffels, 111 Ella Shouler-Harris, 138 Jess Burgess.