Sedbergh Preparatory School welcomed more than 500 young runners from 27 local primary schools for the annual South Lakeland District Cross-Country Trials.

Sedbergh Prep runners had a great day, winning f individual medals and four team awards.

The day started well with Daisy Fielding and Daniela Brighetti coming home an impressive 1st and 2nd in the U9 girls race. 3rd place went to Elissa Kinley of Heron Hill. With Julia Fielding (7th), Lily Brierley (12th), Harriet Barker (13th), and Betsy Harrison (15th) all packing well, the girls won the team prize comfortably from Windermere School.

Hamish Holden has been struggling with an injury over the Christmas period, but he managed to grit his teeth and qualify for the Cumbria Trials, next month, finishing 6th in the Under 9 Boys. The race was won by Ambleside CE's Tom Ashworth, ahead of Harvey Shaw of Lindale CE and Blake Fleming from Leven Valley CE.

The Under 10 girls are a strong year group, and so it proved. Sofia Longworth looked comfortable in the muddy conditions winning by 15 seconds. Harriet Smith came home with a medal in 3rd place, behind Kate Collin from St Mark's Natland. Ella Holland (8th) and Lileah Gregory (16th) also qualified for the county trials, as the girls won the team award ahead of St Thomas’, Kendal. Sedbergh's Under 10 boys had a tough day at the office, as visiting schools took centre stage. St Oswald's Simon Rigby beat Jamie Noreci of St Mark's into first, with Heron Hill's Alfie Addison finishing third. but it was good to see Henry Key (28th) and Blake Hulme (31st) working hard throughout the race.

Scarlett Harrison (6th) had a strong race in the Under 11 Girls, and it was wonderful to see Hattie Newman (16th) qualifying for the next round, as the girls finished 2nd team, behind Sedbergh Primary. St Thomas' Ella Martindale was the winner.

The final race of the day saw Jack Barker come of age. In a strong field three boys pulled away, including Jack. It was only in the last 300 metres that he was able to break the other boys, to become district champion. Heron Hill's Louis Bigland and Ambleside CE's Rowan Ashworth rounded out the top three. George Dodgson (7th), Bruno Fielding (9th) and Sam Hodgson (10th) all had impressive runs to give the boys the team title.