Grit and Determination for our Cross Country Runners

Our Prep pupils have been showing some great sporting spirit in a number of cross-country events in the last few weeks of this half term.

Last Friday, we took thirty runners to compete in the Richard Lander Cluster Primary Cross-Country Event. With eight local primaries attending, there were around 300 children taking part, which meant approximately fifty on each age group’s start line. The course was flat and fast so a good start was important, as the races were relatively short and pacy.

Congratulations to everyone who competed. We are very proud of your effort, teamwork and determination. Well done to all our talented runners who have qualified for the next round, by finishing in the top eight places in their age group:

Year 4: Alyssia, Ellie L, Reggie, William L

Year 5: Rosie, Lexi, Hetty, Rowan, Archie J, Isaac, Jacob

Year 6: Isobel, Winnie, Sarah, Amelia, Sunny, Archie R, Teddy, Finley

An extra well done to Alyssia (Year 4), Rosie (Year 5), Isobel (Year 6) and Sunny (Year 6), who all won their age group races.

A special mention to Rowan who fell metres from the finish line where he was set to take first place,  he got back up and came second before visiting A & E for stitches!

We are really looking forward to taking our team to the next round, after the half-term.

On Tuesday and Wednesday this week, we took two teams to compete in a cross-country event at Polwhele House School. Truro High School also joined in the fun, bringing twenty runners to this event.

On Tuesday, Year 3 raced first, to the delight of Year 4, who supported them brilliantly from the sidelines. We were very impressed with the effort and determination showed by all our Year 3 runners, as they had no previous experience of the course (including that tricky ‘garlic hill’ section).

Congratulations to Ollie S, Henry, Arthur, Ashleigh and Sienna, who all finished in the top three in their age group races.

Year 4 raced next, bursting with energy and enthusiasm, as they shot off downhill into the woodland section of the course. It wasn’t long before we saw them again, as they emerged from garlic hill, with a steady climb to the finish line.

Again, everyone raced hard – showing natural determination and resilience – with some outstanding individual performances.

Congratulations to Reggie, Oliver L, Alyssia and Ellie L, who all finished in the top three in their age group races.

On Wednesday, it was the turn of our talented Year 5 and Year 6 runners; their course was longer than the route used the previous day and entailed a lap of the field, before heading down into the woodland course, followed by garlic hill, then a steady climb around the garden area, before the sprint finish.

Year 5 raced hard, with some fantastic individual performances. Well done to Rosie, Lexi, Archie J and George, who all finished in the top three in their age group races.

Year 6 worked hard in their races too, with some great starts and exciting finishes, on this challenging course. Well done to Sunny, Teddy, Winnie and Isobel, who all finished in the top three in their age group races.

The next cross-country event is on Saturday 25^th February at Polwhele House School. Eight local schools have already confirmed that they will be attending. This year, schools have been limited to teams of 6 runners for U9, U11 and U13 age groups, which means that the races for each age group should be very exciting. We look forward to sharing details of the event with you soon.

Words by Sally Luxton