A VALE Royal Athletics Club runner represented the north of England during Saturday’s Scottish Inter-District Cross Country Championships in Edinburgh.

Katie Gerrard battled against the elements, including swirling wind and a hailstorm, to place 15th overall in the senior women’s race at Holyrood Park.

The 17-year-old, a student at Grange School in Hartford, was the third under 20s athlete to reach the finish at the end of 6km.

Meanwhile Colin Rathbone claimed class honours in the latest round of the Manchester Area Cross Country League the same day, while Tony Archer was runner-up in the men’s over 60s age group.