Juniors strike gold as Bolton race to GB schools success (From This Is Lancashire)

Juniors strike gold as Bolton race to GB schools success

2:50pm Thursday 11th February 2010 in

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BOLTON raced to team and individual honours in the Greater Manchester Schools Cross Country Championships at Leigh on Saturday.

The six-strong junior girls team (years 8/9) took the town’s only gold medal of the day with Ladybridge High School’s Leah Peploe leading the way with a third-placed finish.

With the first eight runners in each race qualifying for the English National Championships at Heaton Park, Prestwich, next month, she made certain of her place with an outstanding performance.

Peploe was followed home by her Bolton team-mates Abigail Fitton (St Josephs), Sinead Bent (George Tomlinson), Bethany and Olivia Wallis (Canon Slade), and Molly Nuttall (Sharples).

The highest individual finisher from Bolton across all the age groups was sixth-former Oriel Hardman. The Turton High School student, ranked second under-17 800m runner in Britain last season, exceded her expectations with a second-place finish.

Behind her in sixth was Bolton School girl Beth Faulkner and they both now go on to represent Greater Manchester at the England Schools Championships.

The only other team medal was a bronze for the year 7 girls team of Jodie Greenhalgh (Canon Slade), Lucy Phillpotts (Canon Slade), Grace Shelmerdine (Rivington and Blackrod), Ruth Wipp (St Josephs), Zara Brunins (Little Lever) and Sophie Williams (Rivington and Blackrod).

The inter boys (years 10/11) race saw Ryan Moore of St James’ take the bronze medal with Thomas Kneller, also of St James’, finishing eighth. Both qualify for the English Schools Championships. Junior boy Simon Walker of Canon Slade won through to the English Schools with a sixth-place finish.

Year 7 boys Nathan Townsend of Canon Slade finished fourth and James Wardle of St James’ came eighth but, unfortunately, they, and Jodie Greenhalgh who finished eighth in the year 7 girls, do not qualify for the English Schools as it does not include a year 7 race.