PUPILS from two Bradford district schools are the fastest cross-country runners in the under-14 years' age group in England.

Katie Atkinson, of Skipton Girls' High School, and Bethan Morley, of Ilkley Grammar School, finished first and second respectively in the junior girls' section at the English Schools national finals.

Bethan said: "It was exciting but tiring and I am delighted with my title as the second-fastest under-14 cross-country runner in England!"

Her team was one of three from Ilkley Grammar competing at the event in Newquay. The school were one of two that had three out of four possible teams at the event.

Bethan, 13, and her junior team-mates came 21st overall, while the Ilkley junior boys finished 23rd – as did the inter boys. There were 24 schools taking part in the final.

Dom Coy, 12, was the first Ilkley junior boy across the line in 75th place and he said: "It was a great experience racing in a national final but the big occasion and the long journey got the better of me."

Ilkley's inter boys team were led home by Cameron Reilly, 13, who finished 63rd.

It was the first time Ilkley's inter boys' team were represented in the finals and the boys relished the opportunity to race around the 4km course.

Previous winners of the race include recent Olympians and Commonwealth medallists.

Despite it being two days away from December, temperatures were pushing 15 degrees and the boys gave it their all. But after a poor start, they were on the back foot.

Cameron, who clocked 18min 24sec, said: "I pushed myself harder than ever before and left nothing out on the course!"