JOE Castle reigned supreme again at the Swindon Schools’ Cross Country Championships held at Nova Hreod School, writes KeVIN FAHEY.

For the second successive year the 16-year-old Kingsdown School student, from Lower Stratton, won the inter boys’ race, but not without a battle as he was pushed hard all the way by Nathan Huyhn, of Ridgeway.

“I am very happy to have won the title again,” said Castle.

“I won it last year and was obviously hoping to win it again. So from the start I went out hard into the lead but Nathan was right on my back for most off the way until I finally managed to pull away on the last loop. It was a really good race.”

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The minor boys race progresses around the course

Castle’s victory is even more remarkable considering that during the summer he concentrated on the pole vault for his club Swindon Harriers and in schools’ competition.

The pole vault, in which Castle won the Wiltshire Schools’ and county clubs’ titles, requires completely different skills to cross country and the teenager’s success in combining the two is a rare one.

“They are different events with pole vault requiring bursts of power and cross country needing more stamina but I enjoy them both,” added Castle. “But my running has improved a lot as I have been working with coach Bryan Clifton at the Harriers.”

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Junior boys’ competitors negotiate a muddy section

Tom Miller, of Lydiard Park Academy, clinched the final place on the podium in third, with Commonweal’s Josh Weaver fourth, ahead of the Lydiard Park Academy pair of James Davidson and Callum Price.

Nova Hreod School’s Jack Rockett was a popular ‘home’ winner as he lifted the junior boys’ crown. Rockett is another sporting all-rounder as he is an accomplished footballer on the books at Bristol Rovers.

Rockett held off the Commonweal duo of Nick Batte and Cian Ware, with Patrick Mochan and Rhys Evans, of Lydiard Park Academy, fourth and fifth respectively and Ridgeway’s Matthew Smith sixth.

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Coming in to the finish of the inter boys race at Nova Hreod on Saturday

The result of the minor boys’ race was annulled after the leading runners were sent off course by a member of the public.

A statement from the organisers said: “The decision has been taken to reschedule the minor boys’ race within the next two weeks at a time that is convenient for all schools and their athletes.

“The disruption to the race was caused by a member of the public altering instructions and directions for the runners midway through the race.

“Unfortunately, this is something that could not be legislated for despite the numerous marshals on the course. This disruption from the member of the public led to confusion and some of the runners being unable to complete the course in a fair and competitive manner.

“The decision was taken, by conglomerate staff from the schools present, to void the results on the day and reschedule the event for a later date in order that all athletes would be given a fair chance at running the full course. All other events were very successful and ran without incident.’’ The proposed new date for the race is Monday, November 23 at 3.15 pm.

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