Chiltern Harriers U13 Girls won team silver medals at the National Cross Country Championships at Harewood House, Leeds on Saturday.

The National is the biggest club-based race of the year and Chiltern’s youngsters did an excellent job to get on the podium from the 41 complete teams from across the country. First-years Frankie Baxter and Lesedi Nkoane have made a big impact this season and here both ran excellently to be fifth and sixth respectively.

Aware of the importance of being the third and fourth scorers, Maddie Hughes in 68th and Marea Logan in 94th both finished strongly to make up places in the last 100 metres. The points total of 173 was well behind winners Tonbridge, but comfortably ahead of third-placed Middlesbrough. Completing the team were Ellie Shield (146th), Savarnah Pandya (273rd) and Beth Togneri (365th).

Conditions were very pleasant at scenic Harewood House, where a foggy morning gave way to glorious sunshine by lunchtime. The excellent undulating course was great for runners and spectators alike.

The Chiltern U13 Boys also did well to be ninth, from a total of 43 teams. Alden Collier continued his strong debut season to be 31st, and Oakley Denson was 59th, Max Baxter 75th and Alex Hughes 117th, to complete the scoring. Ethan McCall was 252nd. There were 408 finishers.

Chiltern had two U15 boys and two U15 girls competing, all of whom ran very well. From 346 finishers in the boys race, Louis Peterson and Nathan Hackley ran strongly to be 30th and 31st respectively. In the U15 Girls, Abbie Henderson 31st, and Holly Henderson 34th both did well from a field of 362.