Six Thetford Athletics Club juniors once again donned the yellow, red and black stripes of Norfolk to represent their county at the Southern Inter-Counties Cross Country Championships in Oxford.

Thirteen counties across the south and east of England entered the best young talent in their area and they were faced with a challenging, mud-soaked course.

Joe Smythe was the second Norfolk athlete home in the U13s age group, completing the course in a time of 10:49mins for 23rd place.

In the U13 girls race, Thetford’s Jessica Norkett was the seventh Norfolk athlete to finish and a time of 12:36 saw her achieve 80th position with Maddie Rolph the next home for Norfolk in 89th place with a time of 13:25.

The Norfolk boys U13 team finished in ninth overall and the girls team finished in sixth.

Harley Swan was the second Norfolk U15 to finish, in 67th place, with a time of 16:50. Aiden Try was next to complete for Norfolk, finishing 80th in a time of 17:27, and Charlie Swan completed the Thetford line-up in 84th place with a time of 17:38. The Norfolk U15 boys team finished in 12th place.

Whilst six athletes were running for the county, many other Thetford AC members were representing their club at the latest round of races in the Ryston Grand Prix Series near Downham Market.

Charlie Garrod stormed round the forest track to finish in a lofty third place in the U9s race with a time of 3:08mins. Ben Peck equalled his PB of 3:29 for 12th position whilst Daniel Clouston was one place further back, completing the course in 3:31.

James Peck finished seventh in the U11s age group with a time of 10:05 and George White came ninth in 11:10. Abigail Clouston was the sole Thetford representative in the U11 girls race in which she equalled her PB of 10:22.

There was a sixth-place finish for Ben Garrod in the U13 boys race with a time of 12:31 whilst Kian Statham was the sole U15 boy and came home in an impressive second spot with a time of 11:38.

Kevin Vaughan led the charge for Thetford’s senior athletes, finishing in second place in the V50 category with a time of 23:51.

There were two high-place finishes for Thetford athletes in the V35 ladies category with Louise White finishing second in a time of 28:07 followed by Charlotte Smith in third with a PB time of 29:36. Jane Coppin also secured a PB in the V40 category with a time of 40:00min which see her finish sixth.

Kevin Vaughan had started the week with a victory at the Woodbridge round of the Suffolk Winter Cross Country League, crossing the line in a time of 33:18min.

There was a fifth-place finish for Tony Cantle in the V55 race with a time of 40:24 whilst Aiden Try came home in eighth position in the U15s age group with a time of 14:38.