CALLUM Bampton stamped his authority on the Wiltshire Schools’ Cross Country Championships to secure a fabulous full set of gold medals.

The 17-year-old Ridgeway School student from Chiseldon dominated the senior boys’ race, finishing one minute 35 seconds clear of Swindon New College student Ciaran Cooper, with Hardenhuish School’s David Bunce another minute adrift over the course at Grittleton House School.

Victory not only continued Bampton’s fine form but also ensured that he now boasts victories in the junior boys’ age group (2012) and the inter boys’ class (2014).

“It is good to tick off all those and nice to have those three titles to my name,” said Bampton.

“A lot of people have dropped away since I won the junior title three years ago but I am still going and also improving, which is the main thing.

“I am pleased with the way things are going at the moment and it is working well with my coach (Swindon-based Simon Burley).”

It is Bampton’s second county title of the year as he also triumphed in the Buckinghamshire Championships, where he was representing his new club Oxford City, having decided to leave Swindon Harriers last year.

Bampton will now be hoping to make his mark in the South West Schools’ Championships which is being hosted by Wiltshire on February 7 at the same Grittleton House School venue.

Joining him in the county team will be Malmesbury School teenager Zoe Wassell.

The 15-year-old, who lives in Tetbury, has also had a terrific start to 2015 and she not only won the inter girls’ race by more than a minute but also convincingly beat senior girls’ champion Gemma Shepherd as both age groups ran together in one race.

“I was really pleased with my run on Saturday,” said Wassell.

“I started fast and early on, there were a couple of girls on my shoulder. But then I upped the pace and opened a gap which continued to grow as I pulled away.

“I felt very strong and comfortable. I am now Wiltshire Schools’ and Gloucestershire clubs’ (Wassell is a member of Stroud & District AC) champion in 2015 and I can’t complain about that at all.”

Fellow Malmesbury School runner Miranda King performed well to take the silver medal in the senior girls’ race behind Sheldon School’s Shepherd.

Nova Hreod student Chloe Crippen, who has made big strides this winter, qualified for the county team after finishing seventh in the inter girls’ race.

Otherwise, medals were hard to come by for the runners representing Swindon, with North Wiltshire coming out on top in the overall points table with 36 , beating Salisbury (21), Kennet (14), West Wiltshire (14) and then Swindon (11).

But after the late decision to postpone the event from the previous weekend due to the forecast of high winds, organiser Tim Whiting, a former teacher at the Ridgeway School, was delighted with the day.

“It was a glorious day and every year, the event seems to improve and I believe this time, it went to a new level,” said Whiting.

“This year for the first time the Markland Clinic was offering free massages for runners, which was very popular.

“The marshals from the Ridgeway and Sheldon were brilliant and Grittleton House proved to be a stunning course.”

Wiltshire Schools’ Cross Country Championships, Grittleton House School, near Chippenham

A=Abbeyfield; BF=Bradon Forest; BW=Bishop Wordsworth Grammer; CS=Corsham School; D=Dauntsey’s; DE=Devizes; H=Hardenhuish; G=Godolphin; I=Isambard Community School; JG=John of Gaunt; LPA=Lydiard Park Academy; M=Malmesbury; MA=Matravers; MO=Melksham Oak; NH=Nova Hreod; R=Ridgeway; S=Sheldon; SA=St Augustines Catholic College; SE=St Edmund’s CoE Girls; SJ=St John’s; SJC=St Joseph’s Catholic School;  SL=St Laurence;  SM=St Mary’s Calne; SNC=Swindon New College; SS=Stonehenge School; ST=Stonar; SWG=South Wilts Grammer; TS=Trafalgar School; WC=Wyvern College.

Senior boy: 1 Callum Bampton (R) 23:57: 2 Ciaran Cooper (SNC) 25:32; 3 David Bunce (H) 26:36; 4 Ethan Jones (S) 26:38; 5 Jay Painter (S) 26:57; 6 Sam Rockett (SL) 27:14; 7 Jacob Payne (CS) 27:16; 8 Joseph Morrison (DE) 28:48; 9 Robert Mitchell (D) 28:49; 10 George Clarely (S) 29:06.

Inter boys: 1 Will Stockley (MO) ; 2 Cameron Perkins (H); 3 Freddie Webb (JG); 4 Josh Shuter (SJC); 5 John Howorth (SA); 6 Jaymee Domoney (SJC); 7 Henry Dixon (SA); 8 Elliott Lassiter (D); 9 Robert Howorth (SA); 10 Jacob Bacon CS).

Junior boys: 1 Rory Howorth (SA) 15:03; 2 Hayden Bailey (JG) 15:20; 3 Jake Nickerson  (SL) 15:28; 4 Finley Lloyd-Gilmore (SS) 15:36; 5 Jonah Veakins (SA) 15:45; 6 Ethan Pierce (A) 15:45; 7 Robert Croager (BW) 15:47; 8 Otto Copping (CS) 15:56; 9 Daniel Poynting (BW) 16:00; 10 Thomas Musselwhite (SJC) 16:13.

Minor boys: 1Anthony Lynn (WC) 10:16; 2 Sam Butt (TS) 10:20; 3 James Pickford (D) 10:25; 4 Patrick Mochan (LPA) 10:31; 5 Josh Sawford (BF) 10:36; 6 Miles Littlechild (CS) 10:36; 7 Fergal Brophy (H) 10:37; 8 Nathan Burn (BW) 10:39; 9 Fin Shorland (H) 10:40; 10 Ed Opie (S) 10:47.

Senior girls:1 Gemma Shepherd (S) 16:23; 2 Miranda King (M) 17:43; 3 Ellen Lindsay (S) 17:48; 4 Jasmine Thayer (SWG) 17:48; 5 Kirsty Stanley (S) 18:11; 6 Emily Neve (D) 18:18; 7 Issy Dickson  (SWG) 19:24; 8 Hannah Land (ST) 20:43; 9 Liberty Nicholls (ST) 22:03; 10 Phillipa Sumner (G) 22:20.

Inter girls 1 Zoe Wassall (M) 15:38; 2 Cailtin Wosika (JG) 16:53; 3 Saskia Debenham (G) 17:10; 4 Jade Day (MA) 17:33; 5 Yasmin Watling (SM) 17:43; 6 Lucy Buffham (H) 18:07; 7 Chloe Crippen (NH) 18:35; 8 Kirsty Roberts (M) 18:58; 9 Emma Pike (SWG) 19:02; 10 Ariana Watling (SM) 19:15.

Junior girls: 1 Abigail Burn (SWG) 12:37; 2 Jade Littlechild (CS) 13:10; 3 Lucy Fitzpatrick (SM) 13:32; 4 Karla Jackson (SJ) 13:40; 5 Coco Smythe (G) 13:41; 6 Caroline Brenchley (SM) 13:50; 7 Louise Webb (SWG) 13:51; 8 Scarlett Rockett (SL) 13:57; 9 Becky Service (SE) 14:00; 10 Ella Malik (SM) 14:04.

Minor girls:1 Sophie Smith (SJ) 10:50; 2 Susie Hirst (SM) 10:56; 3 India Ibbotson (H) 11:10; 4 Beth Mayer (SJ) 11:19; 5 Cerys Jones (S) 11:35; 6 Emilee Berry (SWG) 11:50; 7 Isabella Goulding (SWG) 11:50; 8 Megan Poole (I) 11:54; 9 Lily Jackson (SJ) 11:59; 10 Lucy Matthews (SWG) 12:01.