Bourton Roadrunners had members representing the Cotswold School and Chipping Campden School, in the Cheltenham District Schools Cross Country Championships, at St Edwards School in Charlton Kings, writes Richard Burfton.

The venue has been used in previous years, and is known for its long hill, that the runners have to complete at least once. The top twelve finishers, qualify to run at the Gloucestershire Schools Cross Country Championship’s at Newent on the 8th December.

In the Year 7 boys Minor (Year 7) race, Ned Harrison and Harry Bradley impressively qualified for the finals, finishing in 5th and 9th. Theo Birch paced the course well, gradually moving up the field, to finally finish in 47th place. Zara Sampson ran strongly in the girls race for 21st and Bryony Keay-Bright also did well for 54th.

George Swayne and Jonathan Cook, despite being the youngest in the age group, impressed with 21st and 57th in the boys Junior (Year 8 & 9) race. As did Maite Capper (Year 9) 15th, and Ella Gray (Year 8) 16th both qualifying as reserves.

Ella Thwaites (Year 10) ran superbly in the Inter Girls (Year 10 & 11) for 3rd, qualifying for the finals and Danielle Hadad (Year 10) and Heidi Mundiñano (Year 11) did well for 15th and 22nd, with Danielle also qualifying as a reserve.

Kiya and Taya Dee impressed in the Cirencester and Stroud District Schools Champs with Kiya 1st and Taya 3rd in the Inter Girls competition and Kian 9th in the Junior boys. All three qualify for the finals at Newent.

Gloucestershire Schools County Championships

The Gloucestershire Schools County Cross Country Championships took place at Newent Community School.

The weather was good, but the undulating course was quite slippy, in parts, due to the amount of rain that had fallen over the previous weeks.

Bourton Roadrunner’s had eight members involved who had qualified from the district rounds. The top 10 finishers in the Championships would qualify to run for Gloucestershire Schools in the South West Championships at Bournemouth and top 8 finishers in the Nationals at Liverpool. The top 10 year 7 finishers would qualify to run in the Year 7 Primary School Nationals at Loughborough in March.

The first race of the day was the Inter girls (Years 10 and 11). Elsa Thwaites, Kiya and Taya Dee, all year 10’s, so the youngest in the group did brilliantly on the day. Kiya Dee won the race with ease with sister Taya managing an excellent 3rd place. Elsa impressed with 9th despite only training once a week. Kiya and Taya, both qualify for the South West Champs and the Nationals.

Ned Harrison and Harry Bradley took part in the Minor boys Competition and both boys did extremely well with Ned finishing in 10th place, qualifying to run in the Year 7 Nationals and Harry in 25th.

Emily Field moved to Stratford AC in the Summer to concentrate on 800m/1500m in Athletics but still supports BRR Juniors in local XC Competitions as 2nd claim. She has certainly not lost any ability in Cross Country with a impressive 4th place in the Senior girls (Year 11 & 12) Competition, also qualifying for the South West Champs and Nationals.

Kian Dee despite being the youngest in the Junior Boys (Year 8 & 9) ran strongly as ever for a very respectable 22nd place. Despite missing a great deal of Winter Training through other commitments, Maite Capper did very well for 24th place in the Junior Girls Competition.