Pupils head to Rowney Warren in schools cross country

Organised by Biggleswade Athletics Club, pupils from eight schools took part as teams of three across years 5-8 took turns to run 1km legs on heavy terrain.

Lincroft took the honours in three of the four categories - the boys’ race for years 5 & 6, and both boys’ and girls’ categories for years 7 & 8.

In the latter race the Oakley school showed tremendous strength in depth, as a second Lincroft trio took third place.

Max Reeves (boys’ years 5 & 6) and schoolmate Tristan Cook (years 7 & 8) recorded the fastest legs in their categories, with Cook’s storming leg of 3min 32sec the fastest of the day.

In the girls’ years 5 & 6 category, Etonbury Academy emerged victorious, with first leg runner Harriet Wall running the quickest leg. Etonbury added to this with second place in the boys’ years 5 & 6.

Top three placings also went to Alameda Middle School (third, boys’ years 5 & 6; second, girls’ years 5 & 6), St Andrews (third, girls’ years 5 & 6), Rushmoor and Holywell (second and third respectively, boys’ years 7 & 8) and Robert Bloomfield Academy (second, girls’ years 7 & 8).

Libby Holmes, taking the baton home for Robert Bloomfield in the latter race, stormed round in a category-leading time.

Congratulations also to runners from Alban Church of England Academy, who came fourth in the girls’ years 5 & 6 race and fifth in the equivalent for years’ 7 & 8.

For the first time in the event’s history, the 2018 races look set to include categories for school years 3 & 4, with changes to the distances involved also under consideration.

The club’s track in Sandy is currently undergoing refurbishment, but training and competition continues apace.

Euan Dickson-Earle provided a unique spectacle - a Biggleswade Athletic Club vest live on the BBC. Last month, in his first outing as a senior athlete following a distinguished junior career, Euan competed at the British Indoor Team Trials in Sheffield.

In by far the tightest of three 60m hurdles heats, Euan was just run out of the qualifying positions with a run of 8.11sec, but six days later he returned to the same venue to compete in the British Universities and Colleges Championships, where he fought through to the final and won a brilliant silver medal in 8.12sec.

With a season’s best of 8.01, Euan looks well set to break the eight second barrier for the first time.

Also at the same Sheffield venue, Tom Boggon represented BAC superbly in the 400m at the England Athletics Under-20 Indoor Championships.

Tom, coached by Zoe Luscombe, recorded 52.81sec - matching his season’s best - to finish sixth in a tough heat, which featured the fastest qualifier in the round.

Whatever your goals, be it the first steps to fitness, pushing yourself those extra miles, or even just socialising with members of all abilities, BAC will be delighted to help you along. Test yourself at training on Tuesdays and Thursdays - visit biggleswadeac.org.uk to find out more.