DOZENS of young athletes braved driving rain to tackle a cross-country challenge.

The youngsters from Shildon county and Dene Valley primary schools were taking part in a Fit For Sport 2000 event organised by Shildon Sunnydale School.

Year five and six pupils competed in separate events, tackling a course consisting of two laps of the Sunnydale running track with a muddy loop around the school's playing fields in between.

Marshalling for the event was provided by GCSE physical education students from Sunnydale School.

The Fit For Sport initiative was launched last year in the Tyne and Wear Health Action Zone in response to Government reports on the poor levels of health and fitness among under 11s. It has three phases, starting with youngsters running a mile at their own school, then two miles at another venue, and finally three miles at the Junior Great North Run.

Sunnydale's head of PE, Rosie Asquith, said: "Every one of the youngsters involved in the event we organised deserved a medal. It was a character-building experience for all those who took part."

First home in the year five run was Jonathon Dutchburn, from Shildon, followed by Darren Anderson, of Dene Valley and Michael Walton, of Shildon.

In the year six run John Richardson won, followed by fellow Shildon pupils Andrew Burn and Michael Murray