IT was a great weekend for Highworth Running Club rookie Kiya Dee.

On Saturday, Dee splashed through the mud and rain to win her first regional medal as she finished third in the minor girls’ race at the South West Schools’ Cross Country Championships.

“That was tough but I am delighted to finish third,” said Dee afterwards.

Twin sister Taya wasn’t that far behind in ninth and together the pair helped Gloucestershire – the girls both go to Farmor’s School in Fairford – win the minor girls’ team title.

The sisters were back in action the next day in the latest Oxford Cross Country League race at RAF Harwell with Kiya finishing second in the under 13 girls’ race and Taya fifth, their best results in the league this winter.

Fellow Highworth Running Cub team-mate Chloe Crippen was also at Truro competing in the senior girls’ race but the New College student never looked at home with the testing conditions as she finished 46th.

Having run Marlborough College student Mollie Gibbins close in the Wiltshire Schools’ Championships she was never in contention on Saturday trailing in over two minutes and 34 places behind her county team-mate in 46th.

While Crippen knows she can do better Gibbins was left reasonably pleased with her debut in the event.

“This was my first South West Schools’ so I didn’t have much of a clue as to what to expect,” said Gibbins.

“I was sort of aiming for the top ten so considering the very difficult conditions I am not unhappy with 12th. I did the best in the circumstances.

“But I really enjoyed running for Wiltshire for the first time and the other girls were really friendly.”

A strong contingent of Swindon Harriers were in action in the junior boys’ race. Lydiard Park’s Patrick Mochan was second country runner to finish in 24th, while Ridgway School’s Harry Cunningham was 43rd, Jack Latus of Wootton Bassett 47th and Lydiard Park’s Dan Grant 60th.

In the junior girls’ race, Ayla Tonkin of Ridgeway School came 52nd.