Young athletes race for cross country area colours

TWO athletes are to be rewarded with their colours after battling the elements at a prestigious cross-country competition.

Allertonshire School students Emma Hart and Ellie Vayro competed successfully at both area and county level against a field of athletes drawn from across North Yorkshire.

In very cold conditions the Northallerton 11-year-olds tackled the 2.8km run, overcoming hilly and muddy conditions at Caedmon School, Whitby, to finish at the top of the field in the county event.

Emma took an impressive third place with Ellie hard on her heels in sixth to qualify fore the inter-counties competition at South Shields.

Classmates Josh Hammerton, James Boucher and Callum Crisp, all 11, also ran well but finished outside the qualifying top 12. They will be awarded their area colours in the coming weeks.

At South Shields, against very tough competition from across the North East, Emma finished 11th and Ellie 19th.

Head of PE Sandra Horner said: “Both courses were very tough but all the students represented themselves, the school, the area and county extremely well.
“The girls’ performance was spectacular and I am sure they have very bright running careers ahead of them.”