Cross Country Championship

51 students made their way up to Stafford Grammar School’s muddy fields on the afternoon of Wednesday 22nd October to represent King Edward VI in the cross country running competition. After eventually warming up in the wintery conditions and preparing themselves to face up to the tough competition, at around 2.20 the first race started for the year 7 boys and girls and every competitor tried their hardest against hard competition from other schools. All team members ran extremely well, with the year 7 girls’ team placing 1st overall.

Motivated by the success of the year 7’s the year 8/9 girls set off in their race shortly afterward, cheered on throughout by fellow King Edward’s competitors and leaders around the course. The whole team raced well in the slippery conditions, to finish with King Edward’s team’s top four competitors finishing in the first 15, with times that gained the team 1st position. The third race to start was the year 8/9 boys, 10/11 girls and senior girls. By this point in the afternoon the course was becoming increasingly slippery and the long hill now resembled a muddy slide. However, all King Edward’s competitors in this race managed to run well and finish regardless and the year 8/9 boys’ team finished 2nd overall in their competition. Both Hannah Silvester and Hannah Malpass finished within the top 10 for the year 11 girls and the senior girls closely followed the previous victories finishing 2nd in the team competition, with 2 competitors within the top 10. Charlotte Welch was the first of the King Edward’s individual triumphs of the day pulling ahead of the other competitors and finishing first in the senior girls race.

The final race of the day began at around 2.45 for the year 10/11 and senior boys. Despite the still deteriorating ground conditions after the other races, the year 10/11 boys put up a good fight against the other strong competitors and all 11 team members finished, with 3 in the top 10 and 2 finishing within the top 5. This placing helped the King Edward’s year 10/11 boys’ team to finish in 1st place overall with Ryan Ashforth achieving the second individual victory of the afternoon, finishing far in front of the other competitors to win his race.

The competitors from all years represented the school admirably and the impressive success of the King Edward’s teams in all races reflected the effort put in by everyone, whether they were racing, helping to organise team members or simply supporting the students.

Hannah James