FORGET gale force winds and torrential rain; Summerleaze Downs in Bude were taken over by something completely different last Friday as St Petroc’s School hosted their annual cross country event.

Almost 400 school pupils from all over Cornwall and Devon took to The Downs as part of the biggest event in recent years. The runners and hundreds of staff, marshals and supporters were blessed with pretty reasonable conditions considering what the weather has been like recently and there were some impressive performances.

The Headmaster of St Petroc’s, Dan Thornburn, said: “I am delighted by how the event went; to have so many pupils from 15 schools getting outside and challenging themselves was fantastic. The army of helpers should be really proud of what they achieved and it certainly wouldn’t have been possible without the generosity of Bude and Stratton Council or Bude Cricket Club who allowed us to use their facilities. Well done to all involved but particularly to all those pupils who gave it everything on the day!”

St Petroc’s has hosted this event on The Downs annually but this year’s was the biggest in recent memory.

Organiser, St Petroc’s Director of Sport and Launceston rugby legend Ben Hilton, said: “I am really proud of the event we managed to put on and the opportunity it gave for hundreds of local school children to enjoy our magnificent environment.”

Results: U9 boys: 1st Stratton Primary, 2nd St Breock Primary, 3rd Mount Kelly Prep. U9 girls: 1st Mount Kelly Prep, 2nd Plymouth College, 3rd St Joseph’s School. U11 girls: 1st Mount Kelly Prep, 2nd West Buckland, 3rd Plymouth College. U11 boys: 1st Mount Kelly Prep, 2nd Bradworthy Primary Academy, 3rd Trinity School and Plymouth College.