DISMAL weather failed to dampen the spirits of more than 300 runners from nine schools in Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire, competing in The Royal School Invitational Cross-Country Championship.

Runners got off to a swift start over the 22-acre junior school site in Hindhead, with U8 and U9 teams completing 1km, U10 and U11 teams running 1.5km, and a 2km course for the U12, U13, U14, U15 and U16 teams.

Natalie McIntosh, head of junior sport, said: “We were delighted to welcome so many keen runners to our cross country competition.

“There were many individual successes, but with only the top four in each team counting towards the overall team score, every runner was aiming to run as well as they could for the sake of the team. In true cross-country fashion it was wet, muddy and great fun.”

The Royal Junior School U8 boys and U10 girls both took home team trophies, with Liphook’s Highfield and Brookham School, and Conifers School, Easebourne, also winning junior team trophies.

Hindhead’s St Edmund’s School won the U10 boys, U11 girls and U11 boys.

In the senior races, The Royal School carried away the U16 girls’ team trophy, Tormead School, Guildford, scooped up team trophies in the U12 and U14 girls, Frensham Heights won the U12 boys and Prior’s Field, Godalming, won the U13 girls.

After their races, competitors were treated to a well-deserved hot chocolate and a muffin.