The Cross Country season drew to a close on Saturday 14 March with one of its most prestigious events, the English Schools Championships at Witton Park in Blackburn. The Dorset squad travelled up to Lancashire as a team by coach for the first time in recent memory, with its strongest squad in many years. Witton Park is a beautiful setting in the Lancashire hills just outside Blackburn. There was a tremendous sense of anticipation as the six races of 340+ athletes in each got under way.
BAC was represented by Bridget Dence, competing at her fourth Championship in a row. Bridget put in a solid performance, coming in 41st from 339. She was part of a strong Dorset team, who, as a designated small county, came a remarkable 11th from 44 overall.
There are trophies for the boys’ and girls’ team aggregates for the so called smaller counties, and the girls finished in 2nd place, behind a Millfield dominated Somerset. The boys also put in a strong showing in 3rd place.
The team headed back south, arriving at Kings Park tired but contented, in recognition of a job well done by Dorset‘s junior cross country runners.