ST MICHAEL'S School in Chorley is celebrating a unique double as two of its pupils finished in first and second places for the England Under 16 team in the Home Counties Junior Fell International.

Fifteen-year-old Laura Hughes took victory by a 12 second margin in the Brockagh Glendalough race in County Whitlock, 25 miles south of Dublin, and 14-year-old Katie Ingram conquered her nerves to finish second on her England debut. Incredibly the town of Chorley provided three of the four strong England team with Lisa Richardson of Chorley Athletic Club finishing eighth to help England to team gold.

England took both individual and team victories in all four races. In the Ladies Under 19 race, Barnoldswick's Kate Rogan took individual bronze as the team took a clean sweep of the medals. The Under 19 men went one better with their four athletes all clear of the opposition. Laura's Horwich team-mate Alex McVey won the boys under 16 race. The international brings the season to a close, and the St Michael's youngsters can now reflect on a wonderful year. Laura of Horwich RMI, in her first year in the under 16 age group, took the English Fell Championship with an unbeaten record and then won a place in the England Ladies Under 20 team to contest the World Trophy in Malaysia where the team claimed the silver medal.

Katie of Chorley Harriers is arguably the discovery of the season. This year she has competed on the fells for the first time and has succeeded Laura as English Under 14 Champion. She was a surprise winner of the Home International trial, but her silver medal against older girls proved it was no fluke.

Result (England) - Under 16 Girls: 1 Laura Hughes 11.14, 2 Katie Ingram 11.26, 5 Kelly Roberts 11.37, 8 Lisa Richardson 11.44.

Under 19 Girls: 1 Kate Bailey 23.36, 2 Natalie White 25.19, 3 Kate Rogan 26.21.

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