THE Sir John Colfox Academy cross-country teams took the short visit across to Bournemouth to compete in the 2018 County Championships alongside over 40 state and private schools.

It was another hugely successful day with the boys leading the way this year being crowned county champions in both the inter boys (Year 10 and 11) and Junior Boys (Year 8 and 9) age groups and being second placed in the Minor Boys (Year 7).

Teacher Andy David commented: "To come out on top against schools like Canford, Sherborne, Bryanston, Bournemouth Collegiate and Poole Grammar is a real testament to just how talented our students are and more importantly how hard they work. Sunday morning training in the rain when you could be in bed pays off in the end!"

The Year 7 boys have had a brilliant season so expectations were high and they did not disappoint. Four of the runners finished in the top 20 and an overall score of 57 would have normally been enough to win but they were just edged out into second place by a very strong Bournemouth Grammar School.

The team of Oakley Winters-O'Brien, Oliver Jones, Ryan Pitcher, Charlie Symes, Euan Chant and Charlie Brake look well set to enjoy more success in the coming years.

The junior boys, despite missing county runner Finley Cauldwell, showed what strength in depth they have and why many of them represented the school at the national final in December.

They were crowned county champions, this time ahead of Bournemouth Grammar School! Owen Pitcher led home team mates Oliver Forsey, Jake Childs, Mannie Wellman, Bailey Huxter and Sam Devescery.

The inter boys were the final boys team and they finished in style winning the county title. The team of Manny Cox, Gus Johnson, ZakJohn Ousley, Marcus Burt and Frankie Chant really worked hard over the 6km course to stay ahead of Bournemouth and Clayesmore in what was a very close race indeed.

The Year 7 girls competed first and performed incredibly well to finish 10th overall out of 18 teams. Many of the team had never competed in a cross country race until Year 7 and this was a brilliant result from a team who will get better and better.

First girl home for Colfox was Evie Cox and she was joined by Amy Clatworthy, Ruby Cornwell, Esme Wynn and Pippa Taylor.

The junior girls team is really talented but has been blighted by illness and injury all year so to finish 6th overall from 18 teams which was another excellent achievement.

First girl home was Lea Devecsery and she was joined by Katie Evans, Cora O Brien, May Cornwell, Mia Williams and Eva Cornwell.

As well as team success the star individual performances will also be recognised.

In each race those who finished in the top 10 will now go on to run in the green vest of Dorset at the South West School County Championships at Newton Abbot on Saturday.

Manny Cox, inter boys (4th), Maddy Herbert, inter girls (5th), Owen Pitcher, junior boys (8th), Lea Devescery, junior girls (8th) and Oliver Forsey, junior boys (12th), Oakley Winters-O'Brien minor boys (9th) and Oliver Jones minor boys (10th).

Good luck to all those running for the county against teams from Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, and Avon.