GEMMA Shepherd will continue her farewell tour of the schools’ athletics programme when she lines up for the Wiltshire Cross Country Championships at Grittleton House School on Saturday, writes Kevin Fahey.

The 18-year-old Sheldon School student, from Yatesbury, has already won over the course this winter when she cruised to victory in her final appearance in the North West Wilts’ qualifying event.

“I really enjoy the Grittleton House School course and I think I must have run here about ten times over the years and it is really nice,” said Shepherd.

On current form it is hard to see anyone challenging Shepherd in her bid to retain her senior girls’ crown and her main target will surely be the South West and then the English Championships.

The senior boys’ race should be interesting with West Wilts’ Will Stockley, who has had injury problems this winter, hoping to be back racing after dropping out of the South West Clubs’ event just before Christmas.

In the inter boys’ race 15-year-old North Wilts champion Ethan Pierce, who has made big improvements this winter, has a strong medal chance but brothers Robert and John Howorth are out injured.

One of the best races of the day could be the inter girls’ age group with Caitlin Wosika, Jade Littlechild and Chloe Crippen all entered.

The action should get underway at 10.15am – the event was postponed last week as the course and car parking areas were waterlogged - with the last race at 11.25.

If the event is called off again there is a second reserve date of January 30 also pencilled in – just seven days before the South West Schools’ Championships in Cheltenham.

Wiltshire Cross Country Championships, Grittleton House School, Grittleton, Chippenham – Timetable: 10:15 Minor girls; 10:15 Senior boys; 10:35 Senior girls; 10:35 Inter girls; 10:50 Minor boys; 11:00 Junior girls; 11:10 Junior boys; 11:25 Inter boys.

MARSHFIELD runner Themis Bower showed an encouraging return to form with his first race of the year at the Avon Schools’ Cross Country Championships held on Lansdown, in Bath.

The 16-year-old, who is a member of Team Bath AC, admits he has returned to basics after a frustrating year in 2015 and while he wasn’t delighted with his third place he accepts it is a good starting point for 2016.

“I wasn’t overly pleased but compared to my previous results I have to be happy with the result,” said Bower.

“I have not been in the same form recently as in previous year and I have found myself back at square one. Last year I over-did the training a bit, got very tired and as a result my race results went downhill.

“Then I eased off but probably too much the other way and just didn’t get in enough training so was still racing poorly. I have learned a lot from this and feel I now have something to build to and push on from here.”

Another plus for Bower is that he led BANES to a crushing team victory over Bristol, scoring 44 points to the latter’s 88 with their top six runners.