GEMMA Shepherd opened her senior girls’ campaign with an emphatic victory in the North Wiltshire Schools’ Cross Country Championships, writes Kevin Fahey.

The Sheldon School student gave herself an early birthday present – she turned 17 on Sunday with an assured performance at Grittleton School to book her place in the Wiltshire Schools’ Championships over the same course on January 10.

Even though she is bottom year of the senior age group Shepherd will be a strong contender for the podium in that event as she looks to continue the success he had last winter when she finished runner-up in the South West Schools’ and then 31st in the nationals.

She led home fellow Sheldon runner Ellen Lindsay with Malmesbury’s Miranda King third.

“I was just running with my training partners and school mates so it felt pretty comfortable,” said Shepherd.

“I have not raced much this season yet as I have been doing other things like the biathlon (swim-run) and have qualified to take part in the national championships in Solihull, this weekend.

“After that I shall concentrate more on cross country.”

Malmesbury’s Zoe Wassell, the reigning county champion, stamped her authority on the inter girls’ race.

The 15-year-old finished ahead of St Mary’s Yasmin Watling with Lucy Buffham of Hardenhuish third and Ariana Watling fourth.

Corsham’s 14-old-old Jade Littlechild notched up her first victory in the junior girls’ race holding off the challenge from the St Mary’s pair of Lucy Fitzpatrick and Caroline Brenchley.

Sheldon School’s Ethan Jones competes infrequently but had too much class for his rivals in the senior boys’ race while Luke Campbell lifted the inter boys’ crown.

The other two titles went to Jordan Murray (juniors) of Royal Wootton Bassett School, whose sports team organised the meeting and Zach Stretch (minors) of Bradon Forest from school mate Tobias Langon.

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