Rising star Sam Convery made his customary flying start to the season with a win at the Leeds schools cross-country trials.

This followed an outstanding performance at the Northern Indoor Athletics Championships by the Horsforth schoolboy.

The 13-year-old was thrown in at the deep end when he contested the 800 metres in the under-15 age group at Don Valley in Sheffield.

Despite a slow start, Convery worked his way through the field to finish fifth in 2min 19sec.

He then lined up for the cross-country trials on an icy course at Prince Henry’s School in Otley.

A crashing fall early in the race only served to spur him into action and Convery was a clear winner in his category, improving on last year’s third place.

He now moves on to the West Yorkshire trials in Bradford, hoping to qualify for the English Schools Championships to be held at Wollaton Park in Nottingham in March.