This weekend Clougha Pike Fell Race hosted the penultimate race in the English Junior Fell Championships incorporating the British Inter-Counties Junior Fell Championships.

An impressive 20 Buxton Juniors took part with 6 of the Buxton team selected to represent Derbyshire in the U17 and U19 Inter-Counties Fell teams.

Buxton’s Will Longden took the top prize winning the under 17 boys race and becoming the British Inter-Counties Junior Fell Champion. He led the Derbyshire team to Gold medals in the team event as well. Sam Soles and Stu Diamond were 2 thirds of the Bronze medal winning Derbyshire team in the under 19 boys category. The under 17 girls Derbyshire team consisted of a full compliment of Buxton juniors – Lucy Bednall coming 8th, Amy Whelan 11th and Heather Wilshaw 15th.

Will Tighe returned to the Fells after an excellent season on the track to take an outstanding 2nd place in the under 19 race with team mate Elliot Meylan also running his first race in this seasons Championships to come in a strong 12th. Harry Bond ran for Buxton juniors in the under 17 boys race coming in creditable 19th position.

Six year old superstar Stanley Cook led the under 9 team home as 11th boy, followed by Jimmy Golden 22nd boy and Hannah Cudahy 12th girl, with sister Rachel was 20th under 11 girl. Jack Cook was first Buxton back in the under 13 race in 18th, with the girls team of Lucy Whelan, Grace Bond, Molly Golden and Rebecca Cudahy 24th,26th, 29th and 32nd respectively. The under 15 girls duo of Lauren Wilshaw and Sienna Phillips both had great runs to finish 10th and 13th.

Buxton team manager Rachel Dowle said, “This has been an amazing day for the Buxton team – irrespective of the awesome haul of medals and impressive number of County selected runners – to have such an outstanding number of juniors turn out across all the age categories – 6 to 17 years old, boys and girls, supported by a great bunch of family and friends, has made this a really phenomenal family, team, day out! The fact that this now puts the Buxton team in a solid Bronze medal team position in a national Championships with only one race to go is just the icing on the cake! Thank you to all the parents, families, friends and coaches who support the youngsters to attend these events and allow our kids to have these amazing experiences – we are all so very proud to be team Buxton!”

Photos – some of the U17 Derbyshire team, Will Longden – British Inter-Counties Fell Champion.