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The Cumbria School Cross Country Championship trials were hosted at Sedbergh Prep School on Wednesday January 22. This year, more than 600 runners from over a hundred primary schools made the journey to Casterton, near Kirkby Lonsdale, to take part. Attracting the best young runners in the county, the event has been held at Sedbergh Prep School every other year for the last eight years.
Different age groups competed on different routes around the school’s grounds, with the Year Three and Four pupils covering 1.7km and the Year Five and Six students racing 2km. The routes are described as ‘undulating’ and were quite soft and muddy underfoot on the day of the competition.
Only the top 12 fastest runners in the Year Five boys’, Year Five girls’, Year Six boys’ and Year Six girls’ races qualify to represent the region at the National Primary Cross Country Finals. These 48 talented young runners have been selected to run for Cumbria at the next stage of the competition, which will be held in Northamptonshire on March 22. It was a successful event for a number of local primary schools, as one or more pupils have been selected from a grand total of 27 Cumbrian schools.
Representing Carlisle, children from Belle Vue Primary School, Houghton C of E School, Kingmoor Junior School, Stanwix Primary School, Rosley C of E Primary School and Thomlinson Junior School qualified. From Furness, Dalton St Mary's C of E Primary School, Holy Family Catholic Primary School and Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School pupils will race. For the South Lakes district, Dean Gibson Primary School, Ghyllside Primary School, Grange C of E Primary School, Hawkshead Esthwaite Primary School, Heron Hill Primary School, Sedbergh Prep School, Staveley CE Primary School, St Martin & St Mary's Church of England Primary School and St Thomas's CE Primary School will all be represented.
Gosforth CE School will represent Copeland, while Allerdale will see pupils from Eaglesfield Paddle CE Primary Academy and Fairfield Primary School race. Pupils from the district of Eden will attend from High Hesket CE Primary School, Hunter Hall School, Lazonby CE School, Skelton School, Stainton C of E Primary School and St Catherine's Catholic Primary School. The headteacher of Sedbergh Prep School at Casterton, Kate Martin said: "We were incredibly proud to host the Cumbria Schools Cross Country Championships again in 2025.
“Events like this provide a vital pathway for our county athletic stars to progress to national level competitions. They also offer children an opportunity to build confidence and embrace personal challenge - skills that provide benefit far beyond the finish line. “I would like to pass on my congratulations to all the competitors and especially to the athletes who have qualified for the National Primary Cross Country Finals in March.
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