English athletes faced tough competition from Ireland especially in Falkirk on Saturday
Despite Scotland having home advantage, it was again England who came out on top in this annual competition between the home countries.
However, Ireland took two of the individual titles as England matched them before taking all four team titles as Ireland also added four team silvers.
Weather conditions were perfect with the sun shining and little or no wind. The course itself was challenging with steep inclines and a large number of switch backs and right-angled turns. There was also a demanding camber on much of the course which made it tough for athletes to get into a rhythm.
Rory Barclay-Watt led an England top six in the under-17 men’s event with a narrow victory over Midlands champion Archie Lane, as Evan Grime took third.
It was the same top three as in the intermediate race in the English Schools where Grime won from Archie Lane.
Darragh Whelan, the All-Ireland Schools champion, gave the Irish a comfortable victory in the under-15 boys’ event as English Schools champion Leo Blyton’s second spot helped another England team win, after these two broke clear quite early on.
Ireland’s second individual win came from Freya Renton in the under-17 women’s race as Jasmine Christmas was just given second over England team mate Kitty Scott.
Renton pushed the pace throughout as her challengers gradually fell away with Christmas nearly 150 metres down at the line.
English Schools champion Gabrielle Pinder gave England another win in the under-15 girls’ race as Monroe McBrearty secured Scotland a rare podium place.
Archie Lane, Rory Barclay-Watt, Evan Grime (ESAA)
In the mixed relays, England beat Ireland in the under-15 race with Scotland taking under-17 gold after England were disqualified after not completing a handover correctly.
Under 17 men: 1 R Barclay-Watt (ENG) 20:08; 2 A Lane (ENG) 20:10; 3 E Grime (ENG) 20:08
TEAM (6 to score): 1 England 21; 2 Ireland 69; 3 Scotland 122; 4 Wales 130
Under-15 Boys: 1 D Whelan (IRE) 12:58; 2 L Blyton (ENG) 13:10; 3 O MacDonald (ENG) 13:13
TEAM (6 to score): 1 England 34; 2 Ireland 51; 3 Scotland 112; 4 Wales 125
Under 17 women: 1 F Renton (IRE) 13:54; 2 J Christmas (ENG) 14:17; 3 K Scott (ENG) 14:17
TEAM: 1 England 35; 2 Ireland 64; 3 Scotland 103; 4 Wales 120
Under-15 Girls: 1 G Pinder (ENG) 10:48; 2 M McBrearty (SCO) 10:56; 3 S Smith (ENG) 11:00
TEAM: 1 England 26; 2 Ireland 73; 3 Scotland 102; 4 Wales 147
SIAB Schools inter girls (ESAA)
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