Young runners bring back medals haul in cross country

YOUNG athletes from Desford Primary School have been celebrating an impressive medal haul following the culmination of a trio of cross country races.

The Leicestershire Primary Schools Cross Country League reached its conclusion following three very well supported events at Prestwold Hall near Loughborough.

The Kirkby Road school, represented over the three races by around 40 youngsters, rounded off the 2016 campaign with some major successes, with its Year 4 girls bagging the top prize.

The 2016 competition, organised by the Leicestershire Running and Athletics Network, saw more than 100 schools competing for team and individual honours with the children taking part ranging in age from seven to 11 years.

Thanks to some strong team performances in the first two races Desford went into the final race in fifth place overall out of all the 107 teams and in contention for the Joey Masterson Trophy - the award given to the top performing team of the series.

The girls’ teams in each of the four year groups - 3, 4, 5 and 6 - and the Year 4 boys’ team were placed in the top five of their respective age categories and all in with a shout of some silverware of their own.

Following some outstanding performances in the season’s finale, Desford’s Year 4 girls proved unbeatable, walking away with first place for their age category.

Their male counterparts also clinched a podium place following the final race of the series with bronze in the Year 4 boys age group and the Year 6 girls finished third in their group as well to complete Desford’s impressive treble.

Desford Primary School’s sports coach, Dan Chapman, said of the school’s recent success:

“I am immensely proud of all the children. They have all worked incredibly hard and the awards achieved by the school are testament to the effort and attitude of each and every member of the squad.

“The fact that so many children want to represent Desford in these events pleases me enormously and I am looking forward to seeing what they can achieve in the future.”

The school is now looking ahead to the borough-wide cross country competition organised by Hinckley and Bosworth School Sports Association which takes place early next year at Bosworth Academy in Desford.

The two-race series commences in January. Despite the enforced break from competitive running, Desford continues to offer its young athletes opportunities to maintain their training with the recent launch of a cross country club, a popular addition to an already thriving and varied extra-curricular sports programme at the school.