YOUNG cross country runners from the district’s schools excelled in South Tyneside this week.

They lined up at the Northumberland Schools Athletic Association (NSAA)’s annual cross country county championships, at Temple Park in South Shields.

The Tynedale district finished third overall on a competitive day, behind winners Newcastle and runners-up North Tyneside.

Fourth placed East Northumberland and fifth placed North Northumberland made up the leaderboard.

There was a win for Tynedale’s Charlie Daley in the intermediate boys’ race, with a time of 17.19. Joseph Anderson secured a top 10 place with his run of 18.35. Oscar Jolly was 18th, and Harry Courtney just missed out on a place in the top 20.

In the senior boys’ race, Luke Shears (25.40) just missed out on a top 10 place, finishing 11th. Joe Green was 13th in 26.05.

Ollie Ward came close to a top six finish in the minor boys’ race. He settled for seventh place with a run of 10.41. In ninth place was Jem Henderson (10.46). Finn Stanton was 13th, while Fionn Struthers made the top 15.

Tynedale also had a strong representation in the junior boys’ event, with Nathaniel Henderson (ninth), Isaac Rogen (10th), Dan Lamb (14th), Toby Dancer (18th), and Kai Foulds (19th) all making the top 20.

Maria Gaines had a good day in the minor girls’ race, finishing third with a run of 10.59.

Lucy Glenwright, Erin Blight, Louisa Hamlinton and Ania Stobbart all made the top 10 in a race with a strong Tynedale entry.

Representing Newcastle, Poppy Old, who has previously turned out for Tynedale Harriers, finished second in the junior girls’ race with a time of 10.46.

Tynedale’s Daisy McClinrock was seventh in 10.58, while Zara Naughton was 10th in 11.03. Tabitha Robson, Shinade Creighton and Lucy Milburn, were 13th, 15th and 16th respectively. Abigail Leiper (16.56) earned fifth place in the intermediate girls’ contest, while Jessica Sails (17.39) was 10th. Charlie Lee (18.40) was 17th.

It was also a memorable day for Chloe Wellings in the senior girls’ race. She was the winner with a time of (16.02), while fellow Tynedale runners Hannah Tumia (17.49) and Suzannah Fielding (18.24) were third and fifth respectively.