Roundhay Park in Leeds hosted the forty-third Junior Men's English Cross-Country Championships. Provincial Insurance Company continued their sponsorship of the race. The course was six miles long and consisted of two laps plus the start and finish sections. This was the third time the National had been held at Roundhay Park, the two previous staging's being in 1978 and 1982.
On the first lap Steve Brooks (Bingley Harriers) and Spencer Duval (Cannock & Stafford AC) were first to show with Andrew Pearson (Longwood Harriers) in close attendance. As the leaders started the second lap the lead group included Brooks, Duval, Pearson and John Maycock (Rockingham AC). On the flat run up to 'Hill 60', Duval made his break and established a lead of 10 yards. By the top of the hill Duval led Brooks by 30 yards, Duvall went on to win in 32:20 with Brooks second four seconds adrift and Maycock outsprinted Pearson for the bronze medal.
Duval told Athletics Weekly: "I don't know why, but everyone wanted to take the pace, I was just hanging in and was nearly dropped twice. I was surprised I was so clear at the end. I could not have managed a sprint."
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