Young athletes had the opposition on the run when they took on some of the north’s best athletes producing a performance considered to be the best in over 40 years.
Pupils from Barnard Castle Preparatory School travelled to Barlborough Hall, near Chesterfield, for the Northeast Junior School (NEJS) Cross-Country Championships.
The annual contest is renowned for its tough competition attracting the best athletes from the leading independent schools in the region, from Northumberland down to Derbyshire, with approximately 80 runners in each race.
In an extraordinary performance, Barney Prep’s runners secured a host of top places to become the winning team in four of the six categories – U9 girls, U9 boys, U10 girls and U11 boys.
In the U9 girls’ competition Hattie Burgess was 2nd while in the U9 boys’ contest Jack Westgarth was also 2nd.
In the U10 girls’ race the five Barney runners were placed 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 8th with Elsie Smith, Clara Worthington and Darcy Webb taking the top three positions consecutively.
The U10 boys saw Ralph Mead take 1st place while Reuben Simpson ran in 3rd. In the U11 girls’ race Sasha Johnson was 1st and Jessie Burgess 2nd while Acer Tarn took the top spot in the U11 boys’ competition.
Head of sport Martin Burgess said: “It was particularly pleasing to see a medals procession for Barney pupils in front of about 500 runners and a few hundred parents. Everyone did astoundingly well and we are so proud of all of our cross-country runners.
“Over the past six years we have developed a strong fitness programme and have a flourishing cross country club at Prep School. Several years ago, we extended the distance pupils run at the annual historic Barney Run and take part in several major races, including national events. This passion for running is certainly paying off and we have some of the best competitors in the country.”
Former deputy head Nick Seddon, who has followed the competition for more than 40 years, said: “The result at Barlborough was amazing. The event was well established before I came to Prep, so well over 40 years, and I cannot recall a result like this.”
Acer said: “The standard was very high. The race starts with a steep climb. Mr Burgess suggested I go out hard then coast towards the end and I was particularly pleased to win by a about 50m.”
Sasha added: “I was really happy as I managed to beat runners who normally beat me. My sister helped me train for the hills and I was feeling determined that day.”
Categories: Barnard Castle School School News
