MORE than 300 junior schoolchildren competed in this season’s Smokebusters cross-country series which came to a climax at Pembroke this week. The winter series comprised nine races and, after a short break, distance running returns for the age group with the Smokebusters Challenge in May, which will be the ‘run a mile’ three-race series.

The winter series came to a fitting end with 60 youngsters competing over a fast, firm course.

The Year 6 races brought no surprises as George Mason and Kristina Neves, who have run so well all winter, easily won over the two-lap and 2,000m course.

Both athletes showed no signs of fatigue although both had had a busy weekend.

Mason had been called upon to compete in an older age group in the State Street inter-insular cross-country against Jersey, while Neves was away winning swimming titles at the Hampshire championships.

Second-placed Marco Petralia also deserves mention. He recorded an excellent time and has done well to improve his stamina and keep Mason in his sights.

The Year 5 runners, also competing over 2,000m, demonstrated strength in depth.

The boys’ quartet of Alex Stewart, Cameron Chambers, Logan Fallaize and Christian Le Ray have run well all season and have been chased all the way by the classy top Year 5 girl, Megan Chapple.

The Year 4 boys’ race remained true to form as Max Robin and Tom Nightingale battled closely throughout. Robin just won at the finish. Only five seconds divided the leading Year 4 girls, Charlotte Barker, Phoebe Lewis, Megan Marett and Stephanie Crame.

But it was Barker whose sprint made the difference at the finish.

Teddy Gordon-Le Clerc easily won the Year 3 boys’ race as did Hannah English in the corresponding girls’ event.