Haydon Bridge High School hosted the Tyne and Wear Schoolgirls’ cross country championships.

The competition attracted a bumper entry with 52 teams competing in four age group races, along with a large number of individual runners.

During the competition, the girls faced a scenic but challenging course around Peter Telfer’s Waite Farm, with some gruelling climbs and steep descents.

The minor girls started the morning off with a fast race which saw Samantha Johnson of Durham Cathedral School just hold off Taylor Miller of the Royal Grammar School, with Dame Allan’s winning the team competition.

Whereas the junior race saw the biggest field with 198 runners completing the course and it was another Durham Cathedral school runner – this time Chloe Johnson – who was triumphant and led home her teammates for the team title.

Hexham High School had a strong showing, packing well with Esme Pugh 4th, Ania Stobbart 5th, Emma Nicholson 6th, Emily Lunt 7th and Imogen Done 86th but they were unfortunate not to have a sixth runner to complete their team.

First home for Haydon Bridge was Anna Hutchinson with a strong run for 44th.

The intermediate race was won by Newcastle High School for Girls’ Poppy Old, with Dame Allan’s again taking the team title. The Haydon Bridge team finished fifth, with Rosie Burrows leading them home in 26th place.

Haydon Bridge had their best showing in the senior race with Ella Pigg 12th, Charlotte Anderson 14th, Isabel Roberts 15th and Jessica Swaile 16th combining for third place in the team competition.

The race was won by A page from the Royal Grammar who also took the team title.

The competition was run in its entirety by 70 Haydon Bridge High School sports leaders, as they undertook roles ranging from traffic marshals to starters, hares and catering, giving them valuable responsibility and building their leadership skills.