BROMSGROVE'S Sanders Park was again the venue for this year’s Hereford and Worcester Schools’ Cross-Country Championships.

The event last Saturday saw students, who have qualified through school then district competitions, take on the best in the eight Herefordshire and Worcestershire schools’ regions.

The rain and sleet provided a real challenge to the competitors, who battled through the ever worsening conditions.

In addition to the county competition, they were also selection races to represent Hereford & Worcester Schools’ at the English Schools’ Cross Country Championships, which take place in March in Leeds.

Last year’s Junior Girls winner, Lily Saxon, from Ridgeway Academy, Redditch, was looking to retain her title, but faced stiff competition from Natalie Hatfield, from Bromsgrove School.

The athletes were neck & neck throughout the 3km course, with Lily gaining the gold medal by just one second from Natalie. Ellie Pardy from RSA Academy Arrowvale, Redditch, moved up a place from last year, to claim the bronze medal.

Another Redditch athlete, Josh Robins, from Trinity High took the junior boys' title for the second year running, in a winning time of 15.24.

James Dale, another Nunnery Wood (Worcester) athlete took the gold in the 5.5km Intermediate Boys race, ahead of Joe Hamilton from Trinity High, Redditch, gaining another silver medal to add to that from last year.

The final race of the day was that of the Senior Girls and Senior Boys, racing over 4km and 7km respectively. In both competitions, the new County Champions for 2018, Eleanor Tarring and George Beardsmore, stormed to victory.