Endurance runners deliver sterling performances in national competition

Date published: 20th March 2019

North Norfolk District Council’s Sporting Centre of Excellence (SCOE) scheme continues to go from strength to strength, with some of its near-100 participants performing well in national cross-country races this weekend.

Each race in the English Cross-Country Schools Championship, in Leeds, had 350 athletes from across the country taking part. Hattie Reynolds (Junior Girls) finished 14^th – only a few seconds short of qualifying for the England team.

Brad Keay (Junior Boys) also did well, finishing in 66th position in his race and being the first Norfolk athlete to cross the line.

Meanwhile, Tia-Lilly Crane (Junior Girls), Grace Buchannan (Intermediate Girls) and Henry Jonas (Junior Boys) all achieved creditable mid-field finishes.

In total, there are 93 students benefiting from the SCOE scheme at the moment, and they are taking part in cricket, netball, hockey and endurance running.

The SCOE programme has been a huge success and is now in its third year. It enables children aged between 11 and 14 to benefit from specialist coaching, funded by NNDC and supported through the council’s sports and leisure team. Participants enjoy the high-quality facilities available at Gresham’s School.

Parents and schools are being encouraged to start thinking about making nominations for next year’s programme, which kicks off with selection trials in September.

Cllr Hilary Cox, NNDC Portfolio Holder for Leisure, said: “This is an ideal opportunity for local families to anticipate the nomination list for September, based on the excellent results of this year’s achievements. Well done to all those who are taking part in whichever sport they have chosen – this is an excellent scheme.”

For more information, call Wyn Nurse on 01263 516035 or email wyn.nurse@north-norfolk.gov.uk by June 30.