THE organiser of the annual Blackburn and Darwen secondary schools cross country championship admitted he had never known an event to take place in such terrible conditions - with runners having to ‘plough’ rather than run through much of the course.

But Dave Pilkington, who organised the race on behalf of the Blackburn with Darwen Schools Sports Association, said the spirit of the runners shone through as they failed to be defeated by the elements at a rain-lashed Witton Park.

“The weather was absolutely horrendous with near gale force winds and driving rain,” said Pilkington a teacher of almost 40 years.

“But the spirit of all those runners who took part was never dampened.”

The fact that the race went ahead was testimony to organisers and runners alike who refused to be weather beaten.

The competition was fierce throughout the entire race meeting and there were many superb team and individual performances.

One school however dominated the top spot on the winners podium with St Bede’s winning four individual titles and three team awards.

St Wilfrid’s pushed them close in the team category as they won the three remaining titles up for grabs - while QEGS won two individual prizes and Westholme another.

The race of the day was arguably the Year 10/11 boys event which saw a full on sprint finish at the end of a gruelling two and half mile course.

After Zac Hargreaves of DACA lead for most of the course, he was caught then passed by Kasper Gluc of St Bede’s who crossed the line just ahead of his rival to be crowned Blackburn and Darwen champion.

The Year 10 girls and both the Year Seven races saw a completely different strategy with the eventual winners dominating from the front and stretching the field in to submission.

Maddie Elliott took the girls Year 10 crown to make it a double for St Bede’s in that age group while Charlotte Corrigan of Westholme was girls Year Seven winner with the boys title going to Harvey Ashworth of QEGS. St Bede’s also enjoyed a clean sweep in the Year Nine race, Matt Ramsden winning for the boys and Amy Davies winning for the girls.

QEGS’ second title of the day fell to James Watson who won the boys Sixth Form race.

Pilkington was full of praise for all the runners who took part.

“This event has to rank, weather-wise, as one of the worst in memory and the conditions under foot made racing doubly difficult,” he said.

“That said, the spirit of the young runners was amazing and race after race they gritted their teeth and got on with it, simply ploughing through the mud and battling against the wind and rain.

“The competitors were an absolute credit to the schools that they represented whether crossing the line first or bringing up the rear.”

At the end of the energy-sapping race, a number of runners were also invited to represent the borough in the Lancashire cross country championship.

n Results (top three): Year 7 Boys: 1 Harvey Ashworth (QEGS), 2 Will Lynch (W/H) 3 Jack Banks (DACA).

Year 7 Girls: Charlotte Corrigan (Westholme), 2 Megan Officer (St Wilfrids), 3 Cauden Hesketh (St Bede’s).

Year 8/9 Boys: Matt Ramsden (St Bede’s). 2 Leon Thomas (St Wilfrid’s), 3 Charlie O Kane (QEGS).

Year 8/9 Girls: Amy Davies (St Bede’s). 2 Natasha Pinn (OLSJ), 3 Ruby Cain (St Bede’s) Year 10/11 Boys 1. Kasper Gluc (St Bede’s), 2. Zac Hargreaves (DACA). 3. Joe Gebbie (St Bede’s) Year 10/11 Girls: 1. Maddie Elliott (St Bede’s), 3. Emma Conway (St Bede’s).

Sixth form Boys: 1. James Watson (QEGS), 2. Josh Mather (St Wilfrid’s).