Stroud’s Primary cross country teams put on their best performance in many years to finish third in the county finals at Newent Community School.

Having qualified by finishing in the top 12 of the race at Archway run by the Stroud District Primary Schools and Kick Off Stroud, Stroud took a strong team to the county finals to take on children from the other seven districts of Gloucestershire.

The boys race was won by Stroud’s Henry Sheffield of Bussage School, with Monty Adamson of Woodchester (6th), Oakley James of King's Stanley (9th) and Charlie Boulton of St Matthews (15th) also achieving top 20 finishes.

Meanwhile, Lachlan Harrison of Thrupp (43rd), James Lilwall of Chalford Hill (68th) completed the top six for Stroud scoring points, while Finlay Powell of Thrupp (74th), Toby Fowler of Woodchster (81st), Zach Moffatt of Woodchester (85th) and Riley Willis of Severn View (89th) also represented the district.

These results saw Stroud Boys take third place overall, behind winners Cheltenham and Cirencester.

In the girls' race, the best finisher was Amelia Newell of Cranham in 7th, followed by Izzy Richards of Bussage (9th), Daisy Henderson of Chalford Hill (12th) and Jenny Cowan of Chalford Hill (15th).

Further finishes of 34th for Beth Leeper of Hopelands, 48th for Esme Pilley of Thrupp rounded out Stroud’s top 6. Also representing the district were Beatrice Frank of Bisley Bluecoat (49th), Annabelle Catt of Minchinhampton (69th), Jessica Smart of Hopelands (73rd), Isobel Kinsella of Rosary (74th), Sofia Forgione of Rosary (80th) and Rosie Fuller of Eastington (86th).

These results saw Stroud girls emulate the boys in finishing third, behind Cheltenham and Gloucester.