VALE Royal Athletics Club’s Amelia Pettitt won a bronze medal after charging through the junior women’s field during the English Cross Country Championships on Saturday.

The 19-year-old adapted best to a heavy course at Parliament Hill in London, making up ground on her rivals to claim third place.

Top 30 finishes from clubmates Tessa McCormick and Kate Moulds secured for Vale Royal a team silver too.

“It was a nice surprise for Amelia,” said coach Andy Carter.

“She was a bundle of nerves at the start, but she loves conditions like that when it’s a hard grind. She knuckled down and made steady progress throughout.

“It’s been a long way back for her after an injury last summer, so this is a great way to complete that comeback.

“We knew it would be close for the team prize but to finish only four points adrift of Aldershot, who are so strong, is a brilliant result.”

Pettitt has now won five medals, four of them as a team member, for Vale Royal at the annual event.

Meanwhile the club has returned from seven of the past eight editions with at least one medal, although a first gold continues to elude them.

Vale Royal’s under 17s boys, led by top 50 finishes for Josh Betteley and Jacob Brown, finished a fine fifth overall.

Jon Chatten and Jon Owen completed their quartet.

Carter said: “It’s a great result for them, particularly as the course didn’t really suit the style of one or two.

“Josh ran a brilliant race, as did Jacob.”

Sarah Murphy crossed the line 25th in the senior women’s race, while Alex Doyle (under 15s boys) and Caitlin Dimmick (under 15s girls) continued their encouraging cross country campaigns by classifying inside the top 70 for their age category.

“It’s important for the likes of Alex and Caitlin to experience competing in those sorts of big fields,” added Carter.

“It can be hard to gauge how fast to run, so they’ll have learned a lot from it.”

Vale Royal’s junior men, potential contenders for a team medal, did not run after Matthew Sheen suffered an injury last while Great Britain international Elliot Bowker continues to work his way back to full fitness.

Results

English National Cross Country Championships

Parliament Hill, London, Saturday – Senior men (12km) (Vale Royal AC runners only): 98. Stuart Doyle 43:34; 1864. Colin Rathbone 1:09.51; 1924. Richard Pettitt 1:14.37.

Senior women (8km): 25. Sarah Murphy 33:02; 72. Kate Titlow 34:40; 632. Debbie Moreton 48:13; 820. Carole Williams 57:30. Teams: 52. Vale Royal AC 1549pts.

Junior women (6km): 3. Amelia Pettitt 23:14; 9. Tessa McCormick 23:48; 26. Kate Moulds 25:27; 78. Emma-Louise Pyatt 28:30; 101. Clara Pettitt 30:24. Teams: 2. Vale Royal AC 38pts.

Under 17s boys (6km): 31. Josh Betteley 22:02; 41. Jacob Brown 22:13; 107. Jonathan Chatten 23:34; 124. Jonathan Owen 23:47. Teams: 5. Vale Royal AC 303pts.

Under 17s girls (5km): 103. Chloe Broad 23:09.

Under 15s boys (4.5km): 68. Alex Doyle 17:34.

Under 15s girls (4km): 67. Caitlin Dimmick 17:06; 119. Georgina Denham 17:53; 324. Georgina Moreton 21:00; 352. Phillippa Miles 22:21. Teams: 32. Vale Royal AC 862pts.

Under 13s boys (3km): 78. Edward Pettitt 13:30.