Sarah was second in the U20s race at the Reebok Challenge in Cardiff, behind Laura Kenney. 

The surprise winner of the Under 17 race was Ashleigh Gayle Murray (Pitreavie AAC) who defeated Non Stanford (Swansea Harriers) with an impressive front running performance.  The girls were the first home in both age groups, with Sarah Ponsford (IIF Group) first under 20 and third overall.

It was another race where the Under 17s demonstrated their strength competing against older athletes with six of the first eight all Under 17.

Murray finished in 14:53 with Stanford second in 15:19. Ponsford clocked 15:28 as first Under 20.

UK Inter-Countries XC

Pre-race: Central Trains Under 20 Women’s 6km:

Running: It’s always hard to spot front-runners because Under 17s have a habit of upsetting Under 20 form-guides. Siobhan Coleman (Scotland East) leads the Reebok Cross Challenge Under 17 standings. Sian Edwards (Northamptonshire) won the National Under 17 title a fortnight ago, ahead of all the Under 20s eligible for this race, having earned a place in the Norwich Union GB Junior Women’s Team that won Silver medals at December’s Spar European Cross Country Championships. Hannah England (Oxfordshire) currently leads the Reebok Cross Challenge Under 20 standings. Karrie Hawitt (Cheshire) is the defending Champion and has an extra reason to get to the World Cross Country Championships – the Junior Women’s race is on her 19^th birthday, 19 March. Morag MacLarty (Scotland East) won the Commonwealth Youth Games 1500m title in Australia pre-Christmas and led the Norwich Union GB Junior Team to success in the annual Lisbon International a few weeks ago. Sara Ponsford (Wiltshire) is second in the Reebok Cross Challenge Under 20 standings. Stephanie Twell (Aldershot, Farnham and District AC) is the National Under 17 Silver medallist.

Asked selectors to consider: Emily Pidgeon (Gloucester AC) has won the last two European Trials Junior Women’s races without being old enough to take her place in the Norwich Union GB Team, and has informed the selectors she intends to run in the English Schools Championships on 12 March rather than the Reebok UK Inter-Counties Championships.