Camilla Smee was again the outstanding performer for south-east Essex when the Independent Schools’ Association Cross-Country Championship finals were staged at Princethorpe College, Rugby.

Smee, 15, won her fourth successive individual title at the event as the East Anglian regional team finished first in the boys’ competition and runners-up in the girls.

Nine girls from St Hilda’s School in Imperial Avenue, Westcliff — including Southend AC member Smee, who lives in Shoebury — competed in the event, representing a quarter of the East Anglian team.

Apart from Smee’s victory there were good St Hilda’s performances from Summer Dann (ninth), Sarah Imbush (11th), Lauren Cottie (39th), Molly Randle (34th), Ellis Howard — who ran in place of Eunice Eke — (20th), Lucia Prinsloo (30th), Eloise Holmes (35th) and Jessica Morgan (40th).

St Hilda’s have been competing in the national finals for 25 years. Following a hectic training schedule in Chalkwell Park with school sports coach Wendy Hale, runner Sarah Imbush, 12, summed up her love of cross-country.

“It is fun, keeps you fit, and gives you independence,” she said.

Alleyn Court, Thorpe Bay, had outstanding results in both the boys’ and girls’ events.

For the boys, Laurence Willmore was fourth, Thomas Pudney 20th, Mitchell Ali 21st and Harrison Smith 23rd.

Top girls from the Wakering Road school were Imogen Hoskyn-Staples (11th), Geor-gina Friswell (26th) and Natasha May (68th).