Cross country promise on show

There were less contestants lining up on the start line with the reduction in numbers reckoned to be down to the half-term holidays.

Hallam Bedford maintained good rhythm over the longer two-mile course for years seven and eight runners finishing in 15 mins 32 secs.

This was good practice for Hallam who was a qualifier for the region at Leicester for the London Mini Marathon, which is over a distance of three miles.

In the years five and six race over three laps (approximately one-and-a-half miles), Haddley Bedford triumphed, recording 11 mins 33 secs as he crossed the finish line.

In second place, Matthew Lewis clocked 11 mins 55 secs with Alex Frick third in 13 mins 23 secs.

Over the one-mile course, Jessica Frick was the clear winner of the years three and four race, recording an impressive seven mins 38 secs.

James Leates was the runner-up in a time of 8 mins 06 secs, with Rhys Buswell third in a time of 9 mins 19 secs.

In the race for the youngest age group, in his first run over the longer half-mile course, Ben Rudkin (St George’s School) showed good endurance followed by a turn of speed as he approached the funnel to record a winning time of 3 mins 47 secs.

Lea Frick was second, clocking 5 mins 29 secs.

Competing for St Peter & St Paul School, Burgh, in the District Schools’ Sportshall Athletics Competition, BADAC’s Haddley Bedford recorded 1.90m in the standing long jump and 5.35m in the standing triple jump and also represented his school in the Parlaaf event.

The The next in the series of Junior Sportshall Athletics events will be held on Saturday, March 5, with the final Junior Cross Country races on Saturday, March 19.

Both events start at 10am at the B-Hive Athletics Centre on Punchbowl Lane.