Well done Ella F who took the trip up to Dudley in the West Midlands this weekend to compete in the Independent Schools Cross-country Championships. After being selected to represent her local area from runners in the London South area, she ran in the February English Independent Schools Championships, winning the Championship and taking the Year 7 Independent Schools National title for 2026.

Ella’s mum writes that it was a fast start and that Ella settled into ‘4th for the first lap, moving into 3rd by the start of the second lap, battled up the hill moving into 2nd in time for the downward stretch. She thought 1st was out of reach but with 30 metres to go, she imagined she could hear you (Coach Jeff Manson) shouting encouragement… and she thought she’d ‘go for it’ and she did! Out sprinting the leader on the final stretch to the finish line!’

A great result on the national stage. Well done, Ella.