THE North Wiltshire Schools’ Cross Country Championships was a race that Jade Littlechild didn’t dare lose, writes KEVIN FAHEY.

The 17-year-old Corsham School student turned up at Grittleton House for the event to find she was the only runner for the senior girls’ race, so to spare her a lonely, solo run the organisers offered her the chance to run alongside the inter girls’ age group.

“Luckily I beat them all otherwise that would have been a bit embarrassing,” said Littlechild.

“I am sure there will be more senior girls to race against at the Wiltshire Schools’ Championships (scheduled for Sheldon School, Chippenham, on Saturday, January 20 2018).”

Sterner tests certainly lie ahead for Littlechild, starting this weekend as she makes the trip to Liverpool for the next round of the British Athletics Cross Challenge series in Sefton Park.

“I ran the Challenge at Milton Keynes but that didn’t go so well (she finished 17th in the U17 women’s age group) so I am hoping for better in Liverpool but it will be a tough race,” added Littlechild.

“I have been training well and also consistently but just not raced that much so far which is surprising but there are plenty of events still to come.”

It proved to be a Corsham School double in the senior age groups with Otto Copping, who finished third in the county championships last winter, lifting the boys’ title from the Hardenhuish School pair of James Wright and Rohan Archer.

St Mary’s School Calne also provided two winners in Susannah Hirst (inters) and Harriet Hillman (minors) while Hardenhuish School student Ollie Campbell beat a strong field to lift the inter boys’ title from the Royal Wootton Bassett pair of Max Sockett and Jack Latus.

Sheldon School won three team titles – junior and minor boys plus minor girls – plus were second in the juniors in which Mynka Rucker claimed the individual honours.

North Wiltshire Schools’ Cross Country Championships, Grittleton House

Senior boys: 1 Otto Copping (C ); 2 James Wright (H); 3 Rohan Archer (H); 4 Ethan Pierce (A); 5 Emile Mackney (C ); 6 Will Andrews (C ).

Inter boys: 1 Ollie Campbell (M); 2 Max Sockett (RWBS); 3 Jack Latus (RWBS); 4 Ellery Cole (A); 5 Toby Gingell (C ); 6 Adam Powell (A); 7 Zack Stretch (BF); 8 Fergal Brophy (H).

Teams: 1 Abbeyfield 53; 2 Royal Wootton Bassett 78.

Junior boys: 1 Jay Cant (S); 2 Ben Latham (S); 3 Harry Bartram (S); 4 Charles Hall (S); 5 Alex Stephenson (BF); 6 Liam Brooks (A); 7 Bradley Beck (A); 8 Alex Allman (M).

Teams: 1 Sheldon 65; 2 Abbeyfield 84; 3 Bradon Forest 125.

Minor boys: 1 Asher Jones (H); 2 Callum Angell (S); 3 Henri Cotineau (H); 4 Oliver Dickinson (S); 5 Naman Gurung (RWB); 6 Will Larvin (S); 7 Elis Hussey (BF); 8 Matthew Capel (RWB).

Teams: 1 Sheldon 52; 2 RWBS 94; 3 Hardenhuish 109.

Senior girls: 1 Jade Littlechild (C ).

Inter girls: 1 Susannah Hirst (SM); 2 Megan Wright (H); 3 Fenella Challinor (SM); 4 Eva Porter (M); 5 Amy Richards (C ); 6 Sophie Capel (RWBS); 7 Eleanor Bourne (SM); 8 Serena Read (S).

Teams: 1 Royal Wootton Bassett 76; 2 Abbeyfield 148.

Junior girls: 1 Mynka Rucker (S); 2 Daisy James (SM); 3 Kitty Marvin (SM); 4 Molly Dunstone (S); 5 Indi Boyd (SM); 6 Rose Strutt (SM); 7 Amy Bolton (SM); 8 Abby Rucker (S).

Teams 1 St Mary’s 37; 2 Sheldon 59; 3 Hardenhuish 162.

Minor girls: 1 Harrriet Hillman (SM); 2 Narayani Costa-Jafratel (M); 3 Rebecca Heaps (RWB); 4 Erica Dunstone (S); 5 Eva-Rosa Ferguson (SM); 6 Hebe Hine (SM); 7 Popp Wanell (RWB); 8 Alana Hunt (BF).

Teams: 1 Sheldon 102; 2 St Mary’s 107; 3 Hardenhuish 114.

KEY: A=Abbeyfield; BF=Bradon Forest; C=Corsham School H-Hardenhuish; M=Malmesbury; RWB= Royal Wootton Bassett; S=Sheldon; SM=St Mary’s.