ENGLISH SCHOOLS’ CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS

PONTEFRACT RACECOURSE, WEST YORKSHIRE

SATURDAY 16^TH MARCH 2024

The Championships took place in West Yorkshire this year at Pontefract Racecourse. The course was quite flat with a slight climb at the end of each lap. The weather was reasonably mild with occasional sunshine and was breezy in places.

The Senior Boys finished in 8^th place overall with 448pt. Dexta Thompson was first home in 14^th place (20:110, closely followed by William Walker 19^th (20:25), then Daniel Smith 74^th (21:20), Benjamin Hall 88^th (21:34), Tom Bowman 111^th (21:49) and Tom Murphy 142^nd (22:09). Completing the team were Fabian Schiller 143^rd (22:09) and Jenson Warren 194^th (22:39).

The Junior Girls team finished 9^th overall with 562 pts. Aimee Harling 47^th (11:59) led the team home, closely followed by Pollyanna Kershaw 56^th (12:03), Millie Jordan 58^th (12:04) and Kristy Leitch 59^th (12:04), then Holly Nicholls 141^st (12:38) and Jemima Bradburn 201^st (12:57). Completing the team was Lottie Hesketh 284^th (13:25). Unfortunately, Lyra Kridge was a DNF.

The Intermediate Boys finished in 10^th place overall with 541 pts. Matthew Clark was the first home for Lancashire, finishing strongly in a 17^th place (15:50), closely followed by Myles Fraser 24^th (15:55), then Oliver Gill 59^th (16:25), Sam Aspey 109^th (16:51), Stanley Collinson 153^rd (17:08) and Henry Ward 179^th (17:19). Completing the team were Jack Eccles 214^th (17:37) and Ben Robinson 222^nd (17:40)

The Senior Girls finished 22^nd overall with 846pts. Finishing is a fantastic 4^th position was Isabel Holt (15:30). Next to finish was Charlotte Wilkinson 97^th (17:31) and Helana White 119^th (17:44), then Zara Darkin 174^th (18:25), Poppi Watson 212^th (18:52) and Keira Haxton 240^th (19:37). Completing the team was Lara Ingram-Weston 248^th (19:44).

The Junior Boys finished in 26^th place with 954 pts. First finisher for Lancashire and having run the race of his life was Francis Vidler, completing the course in 10:40 and 28^th place. Next home was Jack Baronowski 64^th (10:55) and Hugh Smith 119^th (11:11), then Thomas Falencki 234^th (11:38), William Grundy 244^th (11:41) and William Kershaw 265^th (11:44). Completing the team were Archie Belfield 298^th (11:56) and Sam Bates 300^th (11:56).

The Intermediate Girls finished 33^rd overall in the team competition with 1162 pts. First counter for Lancashire was Sarah Yates 161^st (14:45), followed by Anna Nicholson 183^rd (14:53) and Molly Taylor 184^th (14:53), then Isabella Pacelli 190^th (14:48), Eliena Lusty 209^th (15:08) and Charlotte Robertshaw 235^th (15:19). Completing the team were Tilly Duffy 285^th (15:51) and Isabelle Perry 303^rd (16:07).

Our thanks go to the team stewards, athletes and parents who helped in any way to make this a most enjoyable English Schools’ Cross-Country Championships.

Steve Mort and Emma Hartley

Team Managers