THE Sir John Colfox School cross country team travelled to round two of the English Schools competition in high spirits, after all four teams qualified from round one.

Colfox were the only school to get all four teams to the final at Kings School, Taunton. out of every school in the south west of England, so it already felt like a mini triumph in itself.

There was an entry of 1,529 teams from 529 schools, so for Colfox to make it into the last 24 in their age group was something to be proud of.

The junior girls started proceedings with a fifth-place finish overall and were the highest-placed team from Dorset.

Olivia Willmore finished strongly in 10th place and she was supported by Dulcie Gatehouse (21), Maddy Herbert (29) Hannah Bowell (35), Rosie Hart (44) and Bronwyn Wright (61).

TEAM RESULT

1 Charters School, Berkshire, 2 Queen's College, Somerset, 3 Ivybridge Community College, Devon, 4 Newquay Tretherras, Cornwall, 5 The Sir John Colfox School, Dorset, 6 Downe House, Berkshire, 7 The Abbey School, Berkshire, 8 St Mary's School (Snr) and St Margaret's School (Prep), Wiltshire, 9 King's Hall School, Somerset, 10 Parkstone Grammar School, Dorset, 11 Royal High School GDST, Avon, 12 Mount Kelly College, Devon.

The junior boys who were looking to improve on their sixth-place finish from last year.

Manny Cox equalled the performance of Willmore, coming home in 10th with Zakjohn Ousely (24th), Frankie Chant (27th), Marcus Burt (29th), Euan Pollock (41st) and Harry Burwood (61st) making up the remaining places.

Once again, they had to settle for sixth again but were also placed the highest Dorset school.

TEAM RESULT

1 Millfield Preparatory School,Somerset, 2 Truro School, Cornwall, 3 Newquay Tretherras, Cornwall, 4 Bishop Wordsworth's Grammar School, Wiltshire, 5 Charters School, Berkshire, 6 The Sir John Colfox School, Dorset, 7 Penryn College, Cornwall, 8 Park House School, Berkshire, 9 Reading Blue Coat School, Berkshire, 10 King's Hall School, Somerset, 11 St Peter's Church of England Aided School, Devon, 12 St Augustine's Catholic College, Wiltshire.

Despite being the oldest team, the Colfox intermediate girls are in fact the most inexperienced team in terms of training years so it was an incredible achievement for them to reach the final.

Olivia Symes placed highest in 15th and she was backed up by Ceri Edwards (25th), Syd March (29th), Ruby Vincent (51st) and Poppy Legg-Bagg (54th).

TEAM RESULT

1 The Holt School, Berkshire, 2 Queen's College, Somerset, 3 King's College, Somerset, 4 Millfield School, Somerset, 5 Park House School, Berkshire, 6 Parkstone Grammar School, Dorset, 7 St Mary's School, Berkshire, 8 Newquay Tretherras, Cornwall, 9 Bodmin College, Cornwall,10 The Sir John Colfox School, Dorset, 11 St Joseph's School, Cornwall, 12 Charters School, Ascot, Berkshire.

After winning round one, the intermediate boys were quietly confident about qualifying for the final and they did not disappoint.

Once again, Dane James led the way with the best individual result of the day, finishing seventh and he was supported by Tom Crabtree (10th), Jed Holt (18th), Kieran Dunning (20th), Sam Handyside (29th) and Thai Chant (40th). In qualifying, they became the only team from Dorset to make the national final.

TEAM RESULT

1 Reading Blue Coat School, Berkshire, 2 Millfield School, Somerset, 3 The Sir John Colfox School, Dorset, 4 The Windsor Boys' School, Berkshire, 5 Truro School, Cornwall, 6 Queen's College, Somerset, 7 Penryn College, Cornwall, 8 St Joseph's School, Cornwall, 9 Charters School, Ascot, Berkshire.

Commenting on the team’s performance, Colfox sports teacher Andy David said: “I have been involved in cross country for nearly 14 years at Colfox and I have never seen so many parents at a single event to support the teams.

“It was an incredible day and I would like to thank the runners for their resilience and commitment to training on Sundays and during the week and to the parents for their fantastic support on the day and for the season so far.”