FOR Chloe Crippen, from Greenmeadow, life is very sweet at the moment, writes KEVIN FAHEY.

The 14-year-old ended 2014 with a superb win in the Swindon Schools’ Cross Country Championships, a triumph that helped secure a place on the shortlist for the Swindon Advertiser’s Young Sportswoman of the Year competition.

That victory spurred on Crippen, who is enjoying her first full year in the sport and on Sunday she made her debut for Wiltshire in the South West Cross Country Championships.

Against a top-class field that was a daunting way to open the New Year, but the Nova Hreod School student is clearly not afraid of a challenge and battled tenaciously over a tough course to finish third county runner in 34th position overall.

“That was a very hard course with so many hills,” said Crippen, who is a member of Highworth Running Club, where she is coached by Jason Campbell.

“I thought I would probably finish in the middle of the pack and I was pleased with my run and it was good preparation for the Wiltshire Schools’ Cross Country Championships (next week.”

Crippen will be hoping to continue her progress with a medal in that event - which is being staged at Grittleton House School – but knows the competition will be tough.

“The two Wiltshire girls who beat me will be there and there may be some others as well but I’ll give it my best,” added Crippen.

Swindon Harriers’ Lillie Bellamy was also in action at Bicton College and finished 12th overall and third over 20 woman in the senior race.

That was a solid run but the 18-year-old has high expectations and after finishing eighth and top junior last year she may be slightly disappointed although the quality of the field was better this year.

Simon Byrne was the Harriers’ sole representative in the senior men’s race and he finished 42nd on his debut.

In the U17 men’s race, Elliot Lassiter and Callum Short, who are both members of Marlborough & District Juniors, finished 27th and 42nd respectively.

South West Cross Country Championships, Bicton College, Budleigh Salterton Women: 1 Jessie Sanzo (B&W, W35) 24:45; 2 Jasmine Finney (B&W) 25:04; 3 Katherine Turner (TBAC) 25:18.

LOCAL: 12 Lillie Bellamy (Swin, U20) 27:18.

Counties: 1 Avon 18; 2 Wiltshire 44; 3 Cornwall 60; 4 Devon 93; 5 Somerset 101.

U15 girls: 1 Sian Temple (N&P) 15:17; 2 Sophie Hamilton (Wells) 15:21; 3 Grace Copeland (Wimborne) 15:24.

LOCAL: 34 Chloe Crippen (HRC) 18:28.

Counties: 1 Somerset 28; 2 Cornwall 50; 3 Avon 64; 4 Dorset 67; 5 Devon 74; 6 Wiltshire 136.

U13 girls: Molly Canham (NA) 12:02; 2 Maddy Johnson (Dorch) 12:17; 3 Abigail Burn (CoS) 12:22.

LOCAL: 38 Beth Mayer (Marlbro) 14:13; 46 Eleanor Barker (Marlbro) 14:41; 59 Maya Short (Marlbro) 17:00.

Counties: 1 Devon 25; 2 Cornwall 43; 3 Dorset 54; 4 Wiltshire 66; 5 Somerset 71.

Senior men: 1 Jamie Parkinson (P&B) 33:47; 2 Tom Merson (B&W) 33:58; 3 Johnny Gilby (Derby) 34:08.

LOCAL: 42 Simon Byrne (Swin) 37:42.

Counties: 1 Devon 38; 2 Devon B 47; 3 Avon 56; 4 Cornwall 60; 5 Somerset 68; 6 Dorset 93; 7 Wiltshire 119.

U17 men: 1 Will Battershill (EVH) 18:11; 2 Tom Mortimer (Stroud) 18:14; 3 Sam Somerville (YO) 18:16.

LOCAL: 27 Elliot Lassiter (Marlbro) 20:10; 42 Callum Short (Marlbro) 22:10.

Counties: 1 Somerset 34; 2 Devon 36; 3 Dorset 55; 4 Wiltshire 72; 5 Cornwall 137.

THE Wiltshire Schools Cross Country Championships, scheduled for Grittleton House School, near Chippenham on Saturday morning, have been postponed.

Organisers took the decision to push back the event by seven days due to the forecast of high winds in Wiltshire this weekend.

The event will now take place next Saturday (January 17), with the first races off at 10.15am.