HONOURS were shared out at the annual Blackburn and Darwen Cross Country Championships with no one school dominating proceedings.

St Wilfrid’s, St Bede’s and Westholme each won two team events in the Year Seven, Year Eight/Nine and Year 10/11 boys and girls races.

Running conditions at Witton Park were almost perfect for the eight races. Nine schools took part in the event with individual and team honours both up for grabs.

There was also a chance for runners to stake a claim in the borough team for the Lancashire Schools Championships in the New Year with the top eight in each race earning a spot in the team.

The Year Seven girls took to the start line for the initial race of the day which produced a fine individual win for Kate Cookson of QEGS with Westholme School taking the team title and St Bede’s finishing in second spot.

In the Year Seven boys race, St Wilfrid’s clinched both team and individual honours with young Isaac Butler crossing the line first.

Westholme clocked up their first individual title the Year Eight/Nine girls event through a fine performance from Char?otte Corrigan and also their second team title of the morning.

The closest competition materialized in the Year Eight/Nine boys where a solitary point separated St Bede’s and St Wilfrid’s with the latter taking the spoils. First finisher was Harvey Ashworth of QEGS.

In the senior races, St Bede’s demonstrated their superiority in both boys and girls events.

The Year 10/11 girls competition saw Saints runners, Amy Davies and Ola Gluc, in first and third places ably backed up by their fellow team-mates to take a fine team victory.

In The ‘blue riband ‘ event of the day was the Year 10/11 boys race Matt Ramsden of St Bede’s literally ran away with - notching up with his team-mates a second team title for his school as well as his third personal championship title in as many years.

On the Sixth Form front, Nick Smith of St Wilfrid’s took the honours for the boys and Hannah Cookson of QEGS was a lone female representative for the borough’s girls but nevertheless put in a fine performance to gain her place on the top step of the podium.

Organiser Dave Pilkington, event organiser of St Bedes said: “We had some excellent performances in each of the race categories and all of the athletes were a credit to their schools whether taking ‘gold’ or bringing up the rear.

“Events such as these are inevitably won by the regular club athletes and every credit must go to them.

“However particular recognition must be given to the dozens and dozens of non specialist participants who turn out and put in a shift for their schools regardless of the weather.

“It demonstrates character and resilience to push themselves to their limits in a very demanding sports. I commend each and every one of them.”