BROMSGROVE and Redditch AC’s under-13s girls’ team were in good form at the Midlands Cross Country Championships in Leamington Spa.

The club’s runners tackled a challenging course which included a notorious mud and water-filled ditch and a climb up to the beacon overlooking the start and finish area.

The strong U13 girls’ squad built on their recent good performance in the county championships and the West Midlands Young Athletes League to finish fifth out of 15 teams.

Amy Mijovic-Cauldwell was the first home for BRAC in 13th place, followed by Ellen Bowen (32 nd), Alice Battey (50th), Amy Tongue (57th), Ellie Moss (76 h) and Anna Nicod (81st).

The only BRAC runner in the under-15s boys’ race, Conor Smith, produced the best individual performance of the day by any of the club’s male athletes in achieving sixth place out of 109 finishers, just 15 seconds behind the bronze medal athlete.

In the under-20s women’s race, Sally Hogan came sixth despite having a fall in the deep water of the ditch, while Orianna Ball was 21st.

Conditions on the muddy course worsened throughout the afternoon and the senior men and women had to run through a thunderstorm and hail.

In the 8km women’s race, one second and one position separated team captain Tamara Ball (63rd, 38:29) and Katy Anderson.

Mel Hepke (111th) and Charlotte Ball (134th) completed the scoring to secure 15th out of 27 teams, supported by Sarah Richardson (138th) and Jane Anderson (150th).

Joe Smith (66th) was first home for the club in the 12km men’s race. The team finished 16th, with Mark Appleton (81st), Andy Freeman (143rd), Malcolm Duff (147th), Matt Henney (193rd) and Steve Brooks (220nd) also crossing the line.