There was a record entry for the Norfolk Cross Country Championships at the Colney Lane playing fields at the University of East Anglia on Saturday.

Joe Skipper of the City of Norwich club was an impressive winner of the men's 10.1.km race run over undulating grassland. He took the lead from the start, accompanied by defending champion Tom Hook. By the end Joe had nearly a minute's lead over the second-placed athlete.

Skipper is a serious triathlon competitor and now a full-time athlete and has demonstrated that he is a very good runner.

The senior women's 6.3km race was dominated by City of Norwich athlete Kelly Grant, who built up quite a lead over Emma Patel of the North Norfolk Beach Runners. One of the closest and most exciting races was in the under-17 men's 6.3km event where Luke Spear outsprinted Ashley Waterson in the finishing straight. Another to make an excellent showing was Sophie Alden who was a clear winner of the under-17 women's race and is another who has made very good progress in the triathlon too.

The perfect conditions for the event were welcomed by the large number of young athletes who took part. The newly formed North Norfolk Harriers must be particularly pleased. They had their first county champion in the under-11 age group in Henry Jonas who also led the club to their first ever team win. Not surprisingly City of Norwich won the big share of the team prizes.

The veterans' age groups were well supported too with Jane Clark the outstanding female competitor, with Spencer Goodall the fastest veteran man.

Kyle Ella from the Great Yarmouth club was a clear winner of the junior men's 8.2km race while Rachel Bruce was the winner of the under-15 girls race 3.1km event ahead of Imogen Crossland.

The championships were organised by Athletics Norfolk and City of Norwich Athletics Club.

A fair bit has been made lately of the decline of cross country, but judging by the numbers of competitors and sheer enthusiasm shown at Colney Lane that just isn't true any more.

The best of Norfolk's athletes will be in action next week at the Southern inter-county event at Oxford while the Norfolk Schools Championships will be held next month.

Norfolk Cross Country Championships results

Under-11 girls: 1 Grace Jermy (CoNAC) 06:30, 2 Tia Crane (Dereham Runners AC) 06:59, 3 Eden Harrison (CoNAC) 07:04.

Under-13 girls: 1 Femke Rosbergen (CoNAC) 09:31, 2 Katie Goldsmith (CoNAC) 09:35, 3 Nelly Porter (CoNAC) 09:39.

Under-15 girls: 1 Rachel Bruce (CoNAC) 11:07, 2 Imogen Crossland (CoNAC) 11:17, 3 Daisy Spurway (Great Yarmouth AC) 11:19.

Under-17 women: 1 Sophie Alden (CoNAC) 21:23, 2 Amy Clarke (CoNAC) 23:01, 3 Anna Bakewell (CoNAC) 23:09.

Under-20 women: 1 Jihanna Bonilla Allard (CoNAC) 22:30, 2 Catherine Lee (Great Yarmouth AC) 24:10, 3 Roseannagh Wright (Norfolk Schools AA) 24:41.

Senior women: 1 Kelly Grant (CoNAC) 20:20, 2 Emma Patel (North Norfolk Beach Runners) 20:52, 3 Charlotte Rose (CoNAC) 20:59.

Veteran women 35-39: 1 Cat Ricketts (Wymondham AC) 22:02, 2 Carly Jermy (Norwich Road Runners) 24:35, 3 Louise White (Thetford AC) 24:52.

Veteran women 40-44: 1 Rachel Williamson (Longdale Striders) 26:08, 2 Vicky Tovell (Coltishall Jaguars) 26:14, 3 Michelle Bull (CoNAC) 26:33.

Veteran women 45-49: 1 Lynn Emmett (Beccles and Bungay Harriers AC) 21:53, 2 Helen Mian (Norfolk Gazelles) 23:31, 3 Niki Park (Norwich Road Runners) 25:37.

Veteran women 50-54: 1 Jane Clarke (CoNAC) 21:44, 2 Tracey Curl (CoNAC) 22:37, 3 Patsy Bradley (Wymondham AC) 28:24.

Veteran women 55-59: 1 Jackie Bye (Coltishall Jaguars) 28:41, 2 Bobbie Sauerzapf (Bungay Black Dog Running Club) 27:55.

Veteran women 60+: 1 Audrey Batchelor (Norfolk Gazelles) 30:43, 2 Cindy Burgess (Wymondham AC) 30:46, 3 Rebecca Durant (Coltishall Jaguars) 30:57.

Under-11 boys: 1 Henry Jonas (North Norfolk Harriers AC) 06:03, 2 Cameron Green (CoNAC) 06:05, 3 Innes O'Malley (North Norfolk Harriers AC) 06:25.

Under-13 boys: 1 William Mahoney (CoNAC) 09:11, 2 Will Simm (Beccles and Bungay Harriers AC) 09:13, 3 Joe Smythe (Thetford AC) 09:19.

Under-15 boys: 1 Jack White (CoNAC) 13:49, 2 Jake Stearman (Dereham Runners AC) 14:19.

Under-17 men: 1 Luke Spear (CoNAC) 18:17, 2 Ashley Waterson (CoNAC) 18:18, 3 Ben Spratling (CoNAC) 18:26.

Under-20 men: 1 Kyle Ella (Great Yarmouth AC) 24:48, 2 Bruce Beckett (CoNAC) 25:09, 3 Edward Foster (CoNAC) 25:35.

Senior men: 1 Joe Skipper (CoNAC) 29:28, 2 James O'Neill (Ryston Runners AC) 30:34, 3 Michael Eccles (Norfolk Gazelles) 30:34.

Veteran men 40-44: 1 Jeremy Rogers (Abbey Runners) 31:50, 2 Tim Topper (Norwich Road Runners) 31:55, 3 Colin Stark (North Norfolk Beach Runners) 32:25.

Veteran men 45-49: 1 Spencer Goodall (CoNAC) 31:09, 2 Nicholas Bensley (Ryston Runners AC) 33:19, 3 Tony Witmond (North Norfolk Beach Runners) 34:11.

Veteran men 45-49: 1 Jonathan Baxter (Tri-Anglia Triathlon Club) 39:14, 2 Matthew Frary 41:01, 3 Bernard Brett 42:14.

Veteran men 50-54: 1 Karl Sherry (Norwich Road Runners) 34:19, 2 Guy Roper (CoNAC) 34:31, 3 Mark Garrett (Norwich Road Runners) 35:35.

Veteran men 55-59: 1 Paul Muffett (Norwich Road Runners) 32:24, 2 Nigel Arnold (Norfolk Gazelles) 33:31, 3 Steve Rolfe (Norfolk Gazelles) 33:47.

Veteran men 60-64: 1 Pete Johnson (Norfolk Gazelles) 35:43, 2 Colin Robilliard (Bure Valley Harriers) 37:01, 3 Philip Bamford (CoNAC) 38:42.

Veteran men 65+: 1 Kevin Youngs (Norfolk Gazelles) 37:08, 2 Ken Bowman (Coltishall Jaguars) 38:42, 3 David Gilbert (Tri-Anglia Triathlon Club) 46:30.