The start of one of the boys races at Les Quennevais. (Picture by Matthew Hotton, 0557783)

OUTSTANDING individual performances were the highlight of the inaugural junior schools’ cross-country championships held in Jersey at the weekend.

The Guernsey team won three of the four Years 5 and 6 boys’ and girls’ races but lost out on the overall team prize. The event was held over the dunes at Les Quennevais and it was clear from the first race that superb individual performances were going to be the order of the day as Katie Rowe overwhelmed all Year 5 girls in a scintillating display of power running. Her victory by almost half-a-minute was excellent.

Hannah English came home in third place – a real achievement as English is still a Year 4 pupil and was competing with girls a year older than her. Max Robin followed Rowe’s example and convincingly won the Year 5 boys’ race.  He was 11 seconds ahead of the second-placed Jersey boy. Tom Nightingale and James Browning fought bravely and did well to come home in fourth and fifth respectively.