Lochaber High wins cross country shield
THE LEANACHAN Challenge took place last Friday at Torlundy, with young athletes from across the West Highlands taking part in a variety of cross country races in the Lochaber forest.
This year secondary school runners came from Kinlochleven, Mallaig, Lochaber and Portree high schools courtesy of a huge effort from school staff and volunteers who helped to organise and transport teams.
S1/2 runners ran a distance of 2.9km, while those in S3/4 ran 5.5km through Leanachan Forest, along a genuine ‘cross country’ path complete with mud, tree roots and narrow bridges.
There were medals for all the runners taking part with trophies for the first, second and third boy and girl in each category, a cup for the fastest boy and girl and a shield for the overall winning team.
This year the school shield went to Lochaber High School. The cup for fastest girls went to Breagha Miller from Mallaig High School who ran the 2.9km route in 12.57 minutes, while the cup for fastest boy went to Alex Jamieson from Portree High School who ran the 2.9km route in 10.24 minutes.
Girls S1/2: 1 Breagha Miller, Mallaig; 2 Alice-Anne MacPherson, Lochaber; 3 Ailsa Janzen, Kinlochleven.
Boys S1/2: 1 Alex Jamieson, Portree; 2 Ben Mackinnon, Lochaber; 3 Danny Cockerill, Kinlochleven.
Girls S3/4: 1 Kinlochleven.
Boys S3/4: 1 Freddy Fulford, Lochaber; 2 Neil Minnis, Kinlochleven; Rosie Sinclair, 3 Jamie MacConnel, Lochaber.
This annual cross country running race is hosted by the Rural Education Trust in memory of the late Peter English. The event is organised by the Rural Education Trust with support from High Life Highland Active Schools team and volunteers from across Lochaber.
Bridget Thomas, active schools coordinator Fort William, added: ‘A special thank you goes to the Rural Education Trust and all the volunteers who helped to put on a lovely lunch, also to all the volunteer marshals and timers and Nevis Range for use of their trails.’