HOLLY Weedall will conclude a stunning winter campaign on the international stage when she represents her country on Saturday.

The Weaverham High School student missed out on a medal after finishing fourth in the junior girls’ race at the English Schools’ Cross Country Championships.

However she still stood on the podium as first counter for a Cheshire team that took gold in the same category.

“It was a brilliant performance,” said team manager Johnny Goodall.

“The conditions didn’t suit Holly – the mud was really deep in parts of the course – but she should be proud of how she did.

“That applies to all the girls; it’s a fantastic achievement to win team gold because it shows our strength in depth.”

Ellie Hudson, from Winsford Academy, was in a six-strong line-up that finished ahead of Lancashire.

Hartford Church of England High School’s Grace Roberts would have been too had she not been spiked by a rival after a fall.

She recovered though to reach the finish.

Northwich Guardian:

Hartford Church of England High School student Grace Roberts, wearing 62, battled back after a fall to finish the junior girls' race at the English Schools' Cross Country Championships last weekend. Picture: Rob Brown/Vale Royal AC

Holly made a brave start, and led at the end of the opening lap.

However she was overtaken at the beginning of the second and trailed Scarlett Livingstone (Devon) for bronze.

Both will be part of an England under 15s girls’ team for this weekend’s Schools’ International Athletics Board (SIAB) cross country match in Dublin.

It is a second call-up for the Vale Royal Athletics Club member after making her debut in the 2018 fixture.

Holly Smith was one of four students from Sir John Deane’s College to represent Cheshire in the senior girls’ race at Temple Newsam Park last weekend.

She crossed the line 12th, while Emily Lowery was 43rd on her final appearance at the annual event.

Lucy Smith, Holly’s twin, and Lily Moorhouse represented the county too.

John Humphries and Aaron Doyle, who also attend the Northwich sixth form college, ran for the senior boys over 6.7km..

St Nicholas RC High School duo Dylan Carney and Patrick Griffith were both counters for a Cheshire team that classified eighth in the junior boys’ race.

Meanwhile Faye Conboy, from County High School Leftwich, was a solitary mid Cheshire representative in the inter girls’ event.

Cheshire’s girls also brought back the Durham Trophy, based on an aggregate of team scores from each of the age-group categories, ahead of South Yorkshire.

Goodall added: “Everybody did their bit, and I can’t ask for any more than that.”

Results (selected mid Cheshire runners only)

English Schools’ Cross Country Championships

Saturday, March 16

At Temple Newsam Park, Leeds

Senior boys (6.7km): 83. John Humphries (Sir John Deane’s College) 23:45; 202. Ben Webb (St Nicholas RC) 25:16; 216. Aaron Doyle (Sir John Deane’s College) 25:30.

Teams: 10. Cheshire 552pts

Senior girls (4.1km): 12. Holly Smith (Sir John Deane’s College) 15:41; 43. Emily Lowery (Sir John Deane’s College); 221. Lucy Smith (Sir John Deane’s College) 18:31; 291. Lily Moorhouse (Sir John Deane’s College) 19:55.

Teams: 10. Cheshire 571pts

Inter girls (3.71km): 290. Faye Conboy (County High School Leftwich) 16:29.

Teams: 9. Cheshire 544pts

Junior boys (4.1km): 103. Dylan Carney (St Nicholas RC) 14:55; 146. Patrick Griffith (St Nicholas RC) 15:10.

Teams: 8. Cheshire 544pts

Junior girls (3km): 4. Holly Weedall (Weaverham) 10:41; 83. Ellie Hudson (Winsford Academy) 11:32; 131. Grace Roberts (Hartford CoE) 11:49.

Teams: 1. Cheshire 272pts.