Inter-Counties Schools X-C 2014

[Sun 2^nd Feb]

Well done to Josh Fiddaman, Joseph Woods, Connor Marshall and Emma James who all represented Northumberland Schools in the Inter Counties Schools X-C at a very windy Meadowfield Sports Centre, Durham on Saturday 1st February. This event brings together the qualifiers from the county trials of Cleveland, Cumbria, Durham, Northumberland and North Yorkshire with, in theory, the top eight back from each county being selected to run for their counties in the National Schools X-C Champs in March. On an extremely wind, cold day all four ran well on the challenging, muddy course.

First away was Josh in the minor boys race, where he was running well up to half way, being third Northumberland counter at that point, but unfortunately he started having breathing difficulties and gradually lost places over the second half of the race. Showing true spirit, Josh never gave up and completed the race although being in obvious pain.

Joseph was next away in the senior boys race, with three tough laps to contend with Joseph ran well to finish around 30th overall and seventh Northumberland finisher which gives him a chance of being selected for the nationals. Following Joseph was Connor in the junior boys where he ran gamely but couldn't get into the top 8 Northumberland boys. Both Joseph and Connor are in the younger of the 2 years so will be in the same races next year.

Emma was the last of the 4 to race in the intermediate girls race where she ran fantastically well to finish 15th overall and 4th back for Northumberland - a bus ticket to Donnington Park for the Nationals looks likely for Emma.