Schools in the mix as West Sussex pupils enjoy taste of cross-country

Hundreds of nine to 13-year-olds showed off their athletic talents when West Sussex schools staged their annual cross-country championships at Chichester's Oaklands Park.

The event for school years 5 to 8 came on a cold, crisp day but that did not deter more than 260 young people from taking part.

The event is one of the many successful competitions delivered by the West Sussex West School Sport Partnership and team of school sport co-ordinators.

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The Year 5 boys and girls kicked things off with their 1,500m race. William Broom stormed ahead to win the boys’ event while the girls race saw a strong finish by West Dean’s Caitlyn Odin and a convincing second place by Isabelle Bish from the March CofE School. 

Bishop Tufnell took the Year 5 team trophy with score of 30 points.

There was another success for West Dean in Year 6 girls’ race as Emily Morely crossed the finish line first and St Richards took their first win of the day with a solid win from Daniel Junco-Richie in the boys’ race. Central were triumphant in the team competition.

The Year 7 girls’ competition saw a clean sweep from Chichester High School for Girls, taking the bronze, silver and gold in the individual competition thanks to Holly olding, Rosey Grant and Abby Moss. They also claimed the team trophy with an excellent score. Despite a great race by Felpham’s Matt Morris taking gold, Chichester High School for Boys secured the Year 7 team trophy.

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With the first-ever race for Year 8 pupils only at sports partnership level it was great to see so many athletes.

There was another win for the High School for Girls as Rose Ellis crossed the finish line first.

There was also another strong performance from Felpham champion Casey Keates.  It meant the team results were extremely close but the solid performance from Bishop Luffa’s boys saw them take the Year 8 team trophy. Organisers said a big ‘thank-you’ to the team from Chichester Runners who they said did a fantastic job supporting cross-country events.

This was a great opportunity to bring primary and secondary school students together to showcase the talent across the area’s schools, said SSCo Sean O’Connor. He said: “It was a successful day providing some fantastic competitive races. The mixing of age groups gave the younger students something to aspire to”

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Results: Year 5 girls: 1 Caitlyn Odin, West Dean, 2 Isabelle Bish, March, 3 Mollie Abel, Lavant; Boys: 1 William Broom, Central, 2 Leo Stallard, Fishbourne, 3 Ollie Hambleton, Bishop Tufnell; Year 6 girls:

1 Emily Morley, West Dean, 2 Katie Byrne, Seal, 3 Bethany Lewis, St Mary’s; Boys: 1 Daniel Junco-Richie, St Richards, 2 Brodie Keates, South Bersted, 3 Sam Mount, Barnham; Year 7 girls: 1 Holly Olding, CHSG, 2 Rosey Grant, CHSG, 3 Abby Moss, CHSG; Boys: 1 Matt Morris, Felpham, 2 Joe Jones, Felpham, 3 Ollie Poole; Year 8 girls: 1 Rose Ellis, CHSG, 2 Charlotte Reading, CHSG, 3 Holly Beaton, Bourne; Boys: 1 Casey Keates, Felpham, 2 Ed Gerwat, B Luffa, 3 James Amos, B Luffa.