Athletics: Athletes hope for clear sky.

Byline: By GARETH HUGHES

NORTH WALES athletes will be looking to the skies tomorrow morning in the hope that history will not repeat itself.

Two years ago the final fixture of the North Wales Cross-Country League was called off at short notice due to heavy snow on the Oswestry course, the first time in living memory for such a step to be taken. As a result the titles were awarded on the basis of four races instead of five.

Many of this year's titles have already been secured, with Shrewsbury having clinched the men's Division One for the second consecutive year. They also hold an unassailable lead in the masters' competition.

Other honours are still very much in the balance, with Tattenhall ladies only eight points clear of Eryri as they fight to retain their Division One crown.

Tomorrow the Welsh under-17 and U20 open indoor championships take place in Cardiff, and on Sunday it is the turn of the U13 and U15s. Also on Sunday is the Nick Beer 10k in Llandudno.

Former Deeside runner Ricky Challinor, who finished third in last week's Welsh cross-country championships, has been named as the 2008 winner of the shield for North Wales' best male road runner.

The best female performance was judged to be Marilyn Kitching's 38.09 run in Coventry, in which she won the L40 class. Bangor student Rob Samuel, also third in the senior men's cross-country championship, takes the trophy for best North Wales debut and Eryri's Paul Wathan retains his Best Youth Athlete Shield.