Dr Challoner’s High School (DCHS) successfully qualified for the Cross Country National Grand Final on Saturday after performing well at the ESAA Cup Regional Finals.

The team competed against 12 other schools with six girls from year seven and eight and six girls from year nine and 10 competing in the Junior and Inter age groups respectively.

The Juniors finished first while the Inters finished third meaning both teams from the Amersham based school have qualified for the major national event at the same time for the first time in 10 years.

Head of PE at DCHS, Mrs Smet, said: “We are thrilled with the girls and how they ran especially in such poor weather conditions.

“Their team spirit pushed them forward and they put into practice everything asked of them. I could not have asked for any more, and I am so pleased for them all.”

DCHS were competing in the East Central Regionals where the top three teams from the event all made it into the National Finals.

The junior team consisted of Millie Hughes, Olivia Cameron, Katie Repper, Janaan Lockwood, Isabelle Swan and Lily Holt.

The Inters team included Lara Hill, Emily Sankey, Soraya Lockwood, Beth Welham, Jessica Bailey and Ella Lee.

Millie was particularly impressive in the junior race as she came second and Soraya ran brilliantly to win the Inter race.

The teams beat local rivals Wycombe High School in the juniors and inters while the juniors got the better of Aylesbury High School.

However, Aylesbury did get their own back as they beat DCHS at the Inter level of the competition to also reach the National Final.