2026 ENGLISH SCHOOLS’ CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
LIVERPOOL, MERSEYSIDE
SATURDAY 14th MARCH
The Championships took place in Merseyside this year at the Sefton Park in Liverpool. The course was fairly soft with some mud in places, following the weeks of rain we’ve experienced so far this year! The weather was reasonably mild, and mostly sunny with blue skies, but with an occasional cold wind at times.
The Intermediate Girls finished 8th overall in the team competition with 477 pts. First counter for Lancashire was Milly Jordan 54th (14:13), followed by Ruby Cleaver 57th (14:15), then Pollyanna Kershaw 74th (14:21), Sophie Mitchell 92nd (14:31), Alice Carr 102nd (14:35) and Isable Goodman 111th (14:40). Completing the team were Elsie McKeever 155th (15:05) and Lauren Silcox 188th (15:15).
The Senior Boys finished in 21st place overall with 771pt. First home and finishing strongly was Myles Fraser with a top 10 finish (19:37, 8th place). Next home was Matthew Clark 44th (20:18), then Jack Eccles 155th (21:31), Max Winstanley 168th (21:44), Luke Kane 197th (22:00) and Henry Ward 199th (22:01) Completing the team were Ethan Cutler 286th (23:09) and Max Belshaw 290th (23:16).
The Intermediate Boys finished in 22nd place overall with 842 pts. First home was William Grundy in 46th place (17:05), followed by Jack Mawdsley 92nd (17:28), Archie Belfield 145th (17:48), William Kershaw 166th (17:56), Theo Robinson 175th (18:02) and Thomas Falencki 218th (18:22). Completing the team were Sam Bates 258th (18:42) and Sam Midgley 277th (18:48).
The Junior Boys finished in 27th place with 971 pts. First finisher for Lancashire was Albert Yates, completing the course in 10:42 and 63rd place. Next home was Charlie Dobson 86th (10:48) and then Gabriel Sardais 180th (11:13), Thomas Stewart 201st (11:18), Jack Turner 224th (11:22) and Max Bond 240th (11:27). Completing the team were Alfred Wright 241st (11:27) and Harry Hopkinson 265th (11:33).
The Senior Girls finished 34th overall with 1337 pts. Anna Nicholson was first counter in 164th (18:35) followed by Tilly Duffy 183rd (18:51). Next home was Holly Moffatt 196th (19:02), then Annie Dickinson 225th (19:23), Ayesha Vose 281st (21:00) and Lottie Smith 288th (21:21). Completing the team was Emily McPherson-Littler 292nd (21:44). Unfortunately, Xara Lewis did not finish the race.
The Junior Girls team finished 36th overall with 1137 pts. Ellie Blackhurst 26th (11:32) led the team home, followed by Ruby Cox 101st (12:06). Sienna Thorley finished 226th (12:43), then Isabel Owers 224th (12:48), Kitty Crossland 248th (12:49) and Ava Winstanley 292nd (13:03). Completing the team was Winnie Lancaster 320th (13:14). Unfortunately, Millie Wright did not finish the race.
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 Charlotte White
Team Managers