SOUTHEND High School for Girls’ intermediate girls team cracked the top 10 at the English Schools Cross-Country Cup final in Cornwall.

The girls, all in school Years 9 and 10, finished seventh up against the best school cross-country teams in the land.

They were led by a fine run from Joanna Rimmington, who despite still being a Year 9 pupil finished in 18th place overall.

Katie Faint was next home in 38th, four places ahead of Juliette Le Mare while Megan Richardson rounded out the scoring team in 42nd spot.

Katie Twell in 77th and Iona Doyle in 95th were the other members of the team.

The competition was held at the Tretherras School in Newquay and was a rolling course around the playing fields.

Southend High School for Girls had two teams competing and Southend High School for Boys one.

The second of the Girls School teams, the junior girls squad, finished in 16th place.

Isabelle Bates was their first runner home, finishing in 39th position.

The three other scoring members were all tightly packed with Hannah Phipps (64th), Alicia Lindsay (71st) and Ella Finlay (75th) all coming home within six seconds of each other.

Nieve Donnolly (86th) and Natalie Smith (97th) were just outside the scoring positions.

Southend High School for Boys’ junior boys team finished in 17th position.

Luca Albon won a private dual with team-mate Andrei Gare to finish first Southend boy home in 52nd place with Gare three places and three seconds further back.

Daniel Riley was the next home in 69th spot, just ahead of Ethan Bird in 72nd.

The non-scoring members of the boys team were Daniel Monk (81st) and Frank MacWan (95th).