TEAMS of children from primary schools around Bridport came together to race in a cross country competition around one of the area's most distinctive landmarks.

Cancelled for the last two years due to the pandemic, the event is normally run in the autumn but was rescheduled for the spring, meaning the runners got the benefit of sunshine and firmer, albeit chilly, terrain than in previous years.

The annual Colmers Hill run was started nearly 20 years ago with the help of Richard Tuck and his family when their children attended Symondsbury Primary School. While their children are now grown up they remain passionately committed to helping to support Symondsbury School to organise the well-loved event for the benefit of all the schools in the area.

This year eight local schools took part: Symondsbury; St Mary's; St Catherine's, Loders, Powerstock, Thorners, Burton Bradstock and Bridport Primary.

With a girls race and a boys race the fine conditions resulted in some fast times, with boys winner Harry Elliot from St Catherine’s setting a new course record with a time of 6 minutes 15 seconds, beating the previous record, set in 2017, by one second. The girls winner, Tilly Winters-O'Brian from Symondsbury, ran the course in 7 minutes 16 seconds.

Overall team winners were Symondsbury for the Girls and St Catherine’s for the Boys, who also achieved the impressive result of placing first, second, third and fourth against a competitive field.

Assistant Head of Symondsbury School, Lisa Jenkin, said: "It was lovely to see everyone back together and able to run the event after a two year break. There was such a buzz as we awaited the start and we love seeing so many people gather at our school and then enjoy the wonderful countryside on our doorstep. After such a long time apart it is fantastic to bring the young people of Bridport together again, to work collaboratively with other schools and see so many families having a great time together, supporting all the runners who did brilliantly around a very challenging course."

Lisa expressed her thanks to the staff and parents of all the visiting schools for their enthusiastic participation, to the Friends of Symondsbury School who put on a great spread of refreshments and to Richard Tuck and his family for their continued support and enthusiasm.