Dorset Schools'
On Thursday 16 January, we took four minibuses down to Kings' Park, Bournemouth for the annual Dorset Schools' Cross Country Championships. This is a county wide event, open to all schools and therefore all pupils within the county, and for a few it is the first step towards achieving selection for the county at the annual English Schools' Cross Country Championships.
As ever, Leweston had a strong showing at the event and ended up as the joint best ranked school in the county amongst the girls' categories. Stand out performances were as follows;
Henry - Minor Boys - 11th and Dorset selection for Inter Counties
Dylan - Senior Boys - 6th and Dorset selection for Inter Counties
Izzy - Minor Girls - 1st (County Champion) and Dorset selection for Inter Counties
Tilly - Minor Girls - 16th standby for Dorset selection at Inter Counties
Lara - Junior Girls - 11th and Dorset selection for Inter Counties
Izzy - Inter Girls - 4th and Dorset selection for Inter Counties
Esmé - Inter Girls - 12th and Dorset selection for Inter Counties
Lucy - Senior Girls - 7th and Dorset selection for Inter Counties
ISA South West Schools'
On Thursday 23 January, Leweston Senior school attended the ISA South West Regional Cross Country Championships hosted at Westonbirt School in Gloucestershire. Hot off the back of another strong Leweston showing at the annual Dorset Schools' Championship in the previous week, Leweston pupils took their fine form onto the regional stage at this event.
In the Year 7 boys race, Henry took the gold medal as the first runner across the finish line, shortly followed by Ollie G in 3rd place, Aidan (13th) and Ollie D (26th). Izzy backed up her Dorset County title from seven days prior with a resounding victory in the Year 7 Girls' race.
In the Junior (Year 8 and 9) races, Lara continued her fine form claiming the victory despite being a year younger than some of her competitors, she was quickly followed home by Charlotte (3rd), Freya (4th), Sadie (6th), Bessie (10th) and Mia (16th). A very strong team win for the Junior Girls, all of whom are racing a year young in that category. It is likely that five of the girls will now form one half of the South West's Junior Girls team for the ISA Nationals in March. In the Junior Boys' event, Harry secured qualification for the National with a strong 5th place finish, and he was supported by Will in 16th and Oliver in 19th. In the Inter Girls' event, it was a Leweston one-two, with Izzy and Esmé packing out the top of the podium, with two respectively strong runs. Finally, Lucy was running in the Senior Girls' event, and claimed the silver medal, competing against a strong Wiltshire county runner.
Whilst the full results are yet to be shared, it is likely that Leweston will have 12 runners through to represent the South West Schools' region at the ISA National Finals in Leicestershire in March. A great effort from all involved, with Leweston showing its strength in cross country on the ISA stage.
South West Schools' Inter Counties
On Saturday 1 February, six Leweston students proudly donned the green vests of Dorset Schools' as they represented the county at the South West Schools' Inter Counties Cross Country Championship in Newquay, Cornwall. An amazing achievement to represent the county, and for four of the six, this was their first time. It also provides the opportunity to contend for Dorset selection at the upcoming English Schools' National Finals in West Sussex.
Izzy K claimed a second place finish in the Year 7 Girls' race - unfortunately, there is no Year 7 event at the Nationals, but she should have her sights firmly set on qualification next year as a Year 8. Henry was 49th in the Year 7 Boys' race, scoring for the Dorset squad in the process. Lara exceeded her seeding to finish 38th in the Junior Girls and beat a number of the girls who finished ahead of her at the Dorset Schools'. Izzy W finished 12th overall, and was the 2nd Dorset athlete home in the Inter counties, again, surpassing her seeding and expected finishing position. This finish has also confirmed her place in the Dorset team for the English Schools' Championships. Esmé, who was representing Dorset for the first time, placed 57th . Finally, Lucy finished 23rd in the Senior Girls race, and similarly beat a number of her teammates in vying for a place at English Schools' without confirmation, it is likely that she has also achieved this alongside Izzy.
Well done to all, and good luck to those going forward to English Schools'.