Bedales Prep Hosts Cross-Country Championships

The Bedales estate was buzzing with young runners on 22 Nov when Bedales Prep, Dunhurst hosted the Hampshire Schools’ Athletic Association Inter-Schools Cross-Country Championships.

Over 500 pupils in Years 7-9 from 25 local state and independent schools attended the event to complete a course through the school’s grounds, set in 120 acres of South Downs National Park. 

The challenging course – 2.5km for Year 7 boys and girls and Year 8 girls, and 3km for Year 8 boys and Year 9 boys and girls – took runners through Bedales’ picturesque grounds, including playing fields and woodland, and was praised by qualified officials at the start and finish points.

The event, which was well attended by club runners, is the selection point for Hampshire’s cross-country team, with the fastest runners completing the course in just over eight minutes.

Dunhurst’s Head of Sport Will Bray said: ‘This was a fantastic event to host at Dunhurst and I was delighted to see so many runners eager to compete. There were some incredibly strong athletes in attendance on Monday and it was great to watch them take on the course.’

See Bedales’ online listing here.