Muddy marvels

BROTHERS IN ARMS . . . Brandon Fitton (left), Mason Shoel, Marcus Day, Philip Whitham, James Kelly and Michael Patterson, of Crompton House, pose for a picture after winning the Years Seven and Eight section.

RUNNING:

CROMPTON House and Blue Coat will look to light up Blackpool after qualifying from the Greater Manchester heats of the English Schools Cross-Country Championships.

Blue Coat’s junior girls and boys advanced to the Lancashire stage alongside Crompton House’s junior and inter-boys on a wet and windy afternoon on Oldham Edge.

The next round of heats is in Carlton, Blackpool on November 10.

The junior boys of Crompton House — in Years Seven and Eight — claimed top spot, three points clear of West Hill.Blue Coat qualified in third place in the same category.

And Crompton’s inter-boys, of Years Nine and 10, raced away to an unassailable 14-point lead at the summit.

Blue Coat junior girls claimed the fourth and final qualifying berth in their section.

Kevin Burns, PE teacher at Crompton House, said: “We are over the moon because it’s difficult to know just how well the sides will perform until the actual event. I now believe we have two of our strongest ever teams.”

Blue Coat PE teacher Nikki Edwards was equally happy with her young charges. She said: “To get two teams through to the next stage in extremely difficult conditions is something to celebrate.”