MEGAN Huxley led Vale Royal Athletics Club’s U17s girls’ team to a silver medal at Saturday’s Saucony ECCA National Championships.

The Middlewich-based athlete, crowned a regional champion last month, was first counter for the four-strong collective at a muddy Alton Towers.

Tess McCormick, Amelia Pettitt and Kate Moulds followed her over the line.

“It’s possibly our best ever result,” said coach Shaun McGrath.

“The field was strong and the conditions as challenging as any I’ve ever seen, so to sneak into second place is an extraordinary achievement.

“I’m pleased for Megan, who deserved to go home with a medal around her neck.”

Huxley, 16, finished fourth – a career best result at this level.

A different Vale Royal AC quartet, led by eighth-placed Rebecca Craigie, scooped silver in the same age class in 2009.

Meanwhile Great Britain international Stevie Stockton, runner-up a year ago, had to settle for sixth position in a senior women’s race won by Louise Damen (Winchester & District).

McGrath said: “It was a frustrating afternoon for her.

“Stevie is a speed merchant, but the boggy conditions left everybody plodding around in the same position for pretty much the whole race.”

There were strong individual performances by Andrew Clews, 26th in the junior men’s race, and 15-year-old Jade Evans who was 24th fastest in the U15s girls’ race.

Kathy Stringer, 18, continued her impressive cross country campaign when she crossed the line in 32nd position in the junior women’s category.

The Knights Grange-based club’s U17s boys, led by Zack Bamber, and U15s girls were both top ten finishers in their respective team standings.

Saucony ECCA National Championships
Saturday, Alton Towers, Staffordshire, Senior Men (Vale Royal AC runners unless stated): 124. Stuart Doyle 40:26; 139. Tom Carter 40:45; 1117. Colin Rathbone 1:00.30.

Senior Women: 1. Louise Damen (Winchester & District) 23:49; 2. Hatti Dean (Hallamshire Harriers) 23:53; 3. Liz Yelling (Bedford) 23:56; 6. Stevie Stockton 24:42; 82. Kate Spilsbury 28:05; 407. Pauline Davies 36:31.

Junior Men: 1. Jonny Hay (Aldershot Farnham & District) 28:17; 2. Richard Goodman (Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers) 28:49; 3. Ben Connor (Derby) 28:52; 26. Andrew Clews 30:35; 167. Andrew Perry 37:44.

Junior Women: 1. Charlotte Purdue (Aldershot Farnham & District) 25:24; 2. Hannah Walker (Dacorum & Tring) 25:35; 3. Louise Small (Aldershot Farnham & District) 25:46; 32. Kathy Stringer 29:26; 103. Gemma Mayled 38:21.

U17s Boys: 1. Kieran Clements (Ipswich Harriers) 23:16; 2. Harvey Dixon (Aldershot Farnham & District) 23:41; 3. Mark Shaw (New Marske Harriers) 23:44; 79. Zack Bamber 26:21; 85. Ryan Moore 26:32; 121. Tom Marsden 27:26; 124. Andrew Miles 27:29; 130. James Ayre 27:41; 145. Lewis Healey 27:53; 167. Josh Boyce 28:16; 201. Mike Vennard 29:11.

Teams: 1. Tonbridge 42pts; 2. Aldershot Farnham & District 100; 3. Gateshead Harriers 151; 10. Vale Royal 409.

U17s Girls: 1. Emelia Gorecka (Aldershot Farnham & District) 20:21; 2. Jessica Judd (Chelmsford) 20:51; 3. Annabel Gummow (Bristol & West) 20:54; 4. Megan Huxley 21:46; 33. Tess McCormick 23:50; 62. Amelia Pettitt 24:34; 90. Kate Moulds 25:19; 97. Lucy Whittick 25:33; 138. Hannah Bishop 26:47; 170. Rebecca James 27:59.

Teams: 1. Aldershot Farnham & District 29pts; 2. Vale Royal 189; 3. East Cheshire Harriers & Tameside 192.

U15s Boys: 1. Adam Howard (Oldham & Royton Harriers) 16:53; 2. Max Nicholls (Tonbridge) 17:06; 3. Alex Carter (Team Bath) 17:12; 75. Elliot Bowker 18:49; 126. Luke Cockerton 19:25; 155. Patrick Stradling 19:48; 309. Daniel Morrison 22:51.

Teams: 1. Tonbridge 72pts; 2. Trafford 146; 3. Bedford & County 174; 18. Vale Royal 665.

U15s Girls: 1. Bronwen Owen (Scarborough) 14:57; 2. Abbie Hetherington (Carlisle Aspatria) 15:04; 3. Grace Baker (Aldershot Farnham & District) 15:14; 24. Jade Evans 16:02; 33. Jessica Parsons 16:15; 154. Emma-Louise Pyatt 17:53; 203. Cerys Heaher 18:41; 283. Lucy Scott 20:20.

Teams: 1. Aldershot Farnham & District 60pts; 2. Birtley 160; 3. Tonbridge 198; 10. Vale Royal 414.

U13s Boys: 1. George Elliott (Benfleet) 8:47; 2. Hyden Burton (Team Bath) 8:49; 3. Christopher Brown (Oldham & Royton Harriers) 8:51; 57. Will Parsons 9:33; 99. Jon Owen 9:53; 170. Hayden Healey 10:21; 265. Matt Rowlinson 11:01.

Teams: 1. Leicester Coritanian 69pts; 2. Tonbridge 102; 3. Sale Harriers 144; 15. Vale Royal 591.