Richard Hemmings led the way home for the Shropshire Schools team at the English Schools Cross Country Championships held on a very testing course at the picturesque Temple Newsam Park in Leeds. Richard from Adams Grammar School, Newport who had finished 54th in his first year as a senior boy at last years championships held in Mansfield. He has continued to improve throughout the year, winning the Shropshire championships in Oswestry in February and second in the inter county meeting in Frodsham. He ran very well in Leeds improving throughout the undulating course and coming home strongly to finish 21st in 22.58, just 20 seconds outside the top 10. This is the highest placing by a Shropshire boy in these championships since Tom Humphries, from Burton Borough was 20th in 2000 in London. Richard will be presented with the Bob Parker Trophy for the best performance by a Shropshire athlete at these championships.

James Wallace from Shrewsbury School was next home in 152nd, Hugh Orton from Wrekin College was 169th, which compares well with his 267th in the intermediate age group the year before. Dan Turner, from TCAT running in his very first English Schools was 189th, with Roly King, Adams Newport 210th, Neil Roberts, William Brookes, 228th, Luke Sheldon, Adams, Newport 229th and Sam Robson, Shrewsbury Sixth Form College 281st, the team were 27th out of 44.

Kelsey Collins from Charlton School, Wellington continued her excellent form this season as the Shropshire Schools Champion came 34th in the junior girls race. Only a Year 8 student Kelsey has another year in the junior girls age group and her race was so close, she was only 30 seconds away from the top 14. Her fellow Charlton team mate Chloe Murphy was the next Shropshire runner home in 235th, with Holly Climo from Sir John Talbot School, 282nd and Steph Butler from Marches SChool 305th, there were 330 finishers.

Thomas Telford's Shropshire Schools Champion, Josh Geritz, who was injured during last years Championships made up for that disappointment with a 43rd placing in the junior boys race. Alex Russell from Burton Borough improved 207 places on last years run as he finished 77th this time. Tom Buckley from Adams Newport, 3rd in the Shropshire championsh ips was the next home in 165th. Thomas Telford's Tom Haynes a member of the Aston Villa Under 14 Academy team was 289th, with Ryan Stokes from the Marches 301st, Ryan Heath, Ercall Wood, 307th and John Metcalfe, Adams 326th. The team were 38th.

Alison Lavender, ran her 6th and final English Schools Cross Country Championships finishing 51st in the senior girls race. Very few athletes can claim to have taken part in the maximum of 6 consecutive national schools championships and Alison has been a tremendously consistant performer for Shropshire Schools over that period. Initially at Wakeman School, the Pulverbatch athlete is now at Shrewsbury Sixth Form College. Her proudest momentr was when she finished a superb 5th in the junior girls race at Brighton in 2003, gaining her an England Schools selection for an International meeting in Dublin. Kate Keenan from Walford and North Shropshire College running her first English Schools ran well for her 106th.

Church Stretton's Cerian Lancaster,got her highest ever English Schools position finishing 68th to lead the intermediate girls team home. Abraham Darby's Nicole Hilliker was next home in 193rd with another Church Stretton student Megan Lloyd 234th, whilst Emma Askins, Bridgnorth Endowed, 282nd and Jenny Young, Wrekin College 305th completing the team.

Mary Webb's Toby Griffiths led the intermediate boys home in 133rd, with Lakelands Josh Ogden 145th, whilst Abraham Darby's Toby Birtwhistle was 258th and Wrockwardine Wood's Chris Carter 278th.

Paul Sanderson