FOUR schools were celebrating at the weekend after making the English Schools Cross-Country Cup final.

The two Southend High Schools, Eastwood and King John School all made it through to the finals in Warwickshire on December 3 after qualifying from the regional finals held in St Albans.

It was a particularly special day for Benfleet’s King John School, whose junior girls team ensured the school will be represented in the finals for the first time in 12 years by winning the regional final.

It was the first time any King John team had won a regional final.

There was also a team victory for Southend High School for Boys’ junior boys team and Southend High School for Girls’ intermediate girls squad.

Both Eastwood School and Southend High School for Boys’ teams qualified from the intermediate boys section.

King John’s victory was set-up by Kiera Tippett who led the junior girls race from start to finish and she was joined in the top 10 by Niamh Smith who was fourth.

The rest of the team ran superbly too with Francesca Roast (20th), Emily Warren (28th), Sophie Bright (31st) and Briony Findley (50th) making up the squad.

“Kiera won but the whole event is a team event and every single one of the them ran to the best of their ability,” said King John PE teacher Joyce Taylor.

“It’s only the second time in the schools’ history that we have reached the finals and the first in 12 years.”

Southend High School for Girls’ team were fifth overall, ahead of FitzWimarc (ninth ) and Eastwood (10th).

Southend High School for Boys’ junior boys team was led home by Joe Kidd in fourth place, though it was FitzWimarc School’s Max Jones who took the individual honours, running away to take an impressive victory.

Kidd was backed up well by his High School team-mates with the whole squad finishing inside the top 20. Sam Jones and Mitchell Cox made the top 10 in seventh and eighth respectively, while Harrison Smith (11th), Harry Long (12th) and James Harley (16th) all ran strongly.

Jones’ FitzWimarc team were fourth overall and Eastwood fifth.

Southend High School for Boys headteacher Robin Bevan said of his schools’ success: “The boys already deserve congratulations, but will now be training hard for the race in December.”

Southend High School for Girls’ victory was set-up by Liberty Good who was fourth, behind winner Gemma Holloway of Grays’ Wiliam Edwards’ School.

Good was followed in by Emma Jarvis (fifth), Victoria Hiscock (seventh), Olivia Sofroniou (ninth), Olivia Tidd (10th) and Abigail Uden, who despite falling early on came through the field to finish 24th as the school sealed a dominant victory.

FitzWimarc’s team finished fifth, with Millie Smith leading them home in seventh, and Westcliff High School for Girls’ eighth.

Southend High School for Girls’ head of PE Sue Simpson said: “The girls ran really well. They all did themselves fantastic credit.

“They have all trained really hard and are looking forward to the final.”

George Elliott led Eastwood’s qualification in the intermediate boys’ race. He finished second overall, with team-mate James Nadin finishing ninth. Behind them were Daniel Frimley (25th), Joe Ray (26th), Connor Peralta (40th) and Callum Brady (45th).

Lawrence Willmore was first home for Southend High School for Boys’ second-placed team, followed by James Blinkensop (13th), Harry Snell (15th), Ben Greenway (18th), Adam Foster (22nd) and Ben Cockrill (30th).

Shoeburyness High School were fifth overall, with Adam Foster (10th) the first scorer for them, with FitzWimarc School in ninth place.

Eastwood’s head of PE Scott Maclean said: “This will be our fifth consecutive national cross country final. Not bad going for a co-ed school with fewer than 900 pupils.

“We are confident the team will do themselves, the school and district proud at the final.”