UP-AND-COMING athletes qualified for the county competition with some fine displays at Wyre Forest District High Schools Cross-country Championships.

Held at Stourport Sports Club for the first time and marshalled by the town's athletics group, 120 pupils completed a testing course in heavy conditions.

The top 16 junior girls -- including last year's winner Alison Young who was involved in sailing contests -- 16 junior boys, 8 inter girls and 8 inter boys go to the county competition at Bromsgrove on January 20.

Stourport Athletics Club's own Elizabeth Dourneen, of King Charles I High School, won in 9 minutes 29 seconds on the new course in the 2,480m junior girls' year eight and nine race.

Laura Easton (Sladen Middle) was 15 seconds behind followed by Tanya Ward (Burlish Middle).

Holy Trinity took the team title, followed by Harry Cheshire High , Haybridge High and Stourport High.

Charlotte Geggie (Haybridge) led from the start in the intermediate races for years 10 and 11 over 3,230m, winning in 14-15.

Tenaya Webb and Alison Bolton (both Stourport) battled for second and third.

Stourport High's junior boys put up an exceptional team display ahead of runners-up Bewdley High, taking five of the top six places over 3,780m.

Sam Strange won in 14-20, ahead of Danny Foster (second) and Liam Preece (third).

King Charles' Jason Townsend was district champion for the second year running when he won the inter boys' 4,530m race in 16-24. Haybridge runners Steven Foster and Mark Harper worked well for the next two places.

Bewdley won the team event with Stourport second.

Others selected, junior boys: Mark Light (Harry Cheshire), Paul Smith (Stourport), Mark Bowl (Stourport), David Knight (Bewdley), Matt Phair (Franche), Ben Preece (Harry Cheshire), Adam Cotgrave (Sladen), Ben Warnett (Bewdley), Martin Morris (Bewdley), Daniel Mills (Sladen), Danny Mullane (St Annes Middle), Matthew Preece (Burlish), Chris Green (Franche). Reserves: Nick Smith (Bewdley), Toby Haines (Bewdley).

Inter boys: Michael Hall-Evans (Haybridge), Matt Baker (Stourport), Michael Green (Bewdley), Richard Brandon (King Charles), Jack Boatman (Bewdley), Craig Watters (Wolverley). Reserves: Ian Mills (Stourport), Michael Harris (Bewdley).

Junior girls: Rebecca Palfrey (Holy Trinity), Samantha Grove (Wolverley), Hannah Norton (Franche), Kirsty Evans (Harry Cheshire), Holly Smith (Holy Trinity), Amanda Carrick (Sladen), Holly Evans (Holy Trinity), Helen Calvert (Holy Trinity), Tania Partridge (Haybridge), Chelsey Hopkins (Holy Trinity), Kirsty Wright (Harry Cheshire), Alison Mallard (Franche). Reserves: Sarah Sargeant (Harry Cheshire), Amy Mountain (Stourport).

Inter girls: Kailee Hurdiss (Harry Cheshire), Becki McGowan (Stourport), Belinda Hudson (Wolverley), Ellen Lobb (Harry Cheshire), Kirsty Southwick (King Charles). Reserves: Jayne Thompson (Holy Trinity), Ashley Round (Bewdley).

Seniors competing: Steven Truelove (Heathfield), Alex Taff (Harry Cheshire), Russell Wright (Harry Cheshire), Matthew Abbot (Bewdley), Ben Gready (Bewdley), Zoe Oliver (Harry Cheshire), Gemma Hodgkins (Harry Cheshire), Hayley Stelling (Bewdley), Rhea Gittings (Bewdley), Karen Smith (Stourport), Rachel Fletcher (Stourport) and Charlotte Mensah (Stourport).

Franche Middle won three out of four races, the U-12 boys and U-13 boys and girls, in the Middle Schools District Cross Country Championships.

Among runners: Simon Rudd, Laurence Moran, Tom Sivell, Jacob Egginton, Matthew Panteli, Martin Haycock, Scott Godsell, Sam Gray, Lucy Webb, Vicky Price, Emma Butter, Jade Keen, Rebecca Meredith, Shaun Kirk, James Day, Matthew Ker and Scott Martin.