ALLERTONSHIRE School's year seven/eight girls cross-country team finished in a superb tenth place at the English Schools finals at Hartford in Cheshire earlier this month.

Facing up to a contest against 23 other teams from across the country, the squad of eight - already with the North Yorkshire and North East titles tucked under their belts - had been training hard in appalling conditions for their big day.

They arrived to find a course which was flat, wet and boggy in places and conditions worsened during the day as rain threatened.

The Allertonshire team vests were all prominent towards the front of the field as the race got underway and the girls ran with courage and determination throughout.

Jo Adams led the team home in 35th place, with her sister Rosie close behind in 46th, Jennifer Crewdson 48th and Katie Roberts the final counter in 57th. Rebecca Sadler finished 74th and Abbie Thompson 87th.

Lucy Collier travelled as a reserve and did a wonderful job encouraging the team around the course, while Stacey Lambert was unable to travel due to illness.

The standard of the event was so high that 83 out of the 141 runners finished within a one-minute period of time over the 2,400m course.

Students, parents and staff were delighted when it was announced that the team had achieved tenth place, beating the school's previous best position of 15th, recorded last year.