A TEAM from Barnard Castle Preparatory School were front runners in an inter-schools cross country competition.

The six young athletes - Freddie McBaine, aged nine, from Houghton-le-Side, Caroline Simpson, nine, from Witton-le-Wear, Finlay Tait, 11, from Wolsingham, Alice McBain, ten, from Houghton-le-Side, Christopher Robinson, 11, from Bowes and Patrick Borer, 11, from Romaldkirk took the overall honours in the 12th annual Teesdale Primary School Cross Country Event.

They made the most of perfect weather conditions to overcome stiff opposition from more than 100 competitors. A large crowd of spectators watched the event in the Barnard Castle School grounds.

Harry Madgwick-Lawton, from Gainford Primary School, won the individual event.

Other competitors who were the first runners to finish for their schools were: Freddie McBain, Barnard Castle Prep School, Luke Magnall, Butterknowle, Owen Langdon, Cotherstone, Michael Graeme, Hamsterley, Tom Carr, Ingleton, Adam Mitchell, Middleton-in-Teesdale, Adam Goodfellow, Montalbo, Barnard Castle, Tom Sumpton, Staindrop C of E, Tim Ridgway, Startforth Morritt, and Jack Fuller, Woodland.

Ingleton were runners up in the team event with Gainford third and Cotherstone fourth.

Finlay Tait said: "It was a really tough race and, while the weather was better than last year, it was very hot for running."

Prizes were presented by prep school headteacher Ted Haslam. He said: "A healthy body means a healthy mind and on this basis I predict that the children should not find any difficulty with the Key Stage Two SATS tests that are beginning for all children across the nation.