Clifton schoolboy Ryan Parker became the Bedfordshire schools county cross-country champion at Ampthill Park last Wednesday. The win was especially important because it will put him first out of the pen for the Bedfordshire team at the national schools

Clifton schoolboy Ryan Parker became the Bedfordshire schools' county cross-country champion at Ampthill Park last Wednesday.

The win was especially important because it will put him first out of the pen for the Bedfordshire team at the national schools' cross-country championships in Leeds on March 24 - which is also his birthday!

Being first out of the pen will mean he is not impeded as about 340 runners will all start at the same time.

Fellow Samuel Whitbread Community College pupil Samantha Cutler from Stotfold was runner-up in the intermediate girls' race (for Years 10 and 11).

She finished behind Amie McGurk, who also competes for Bedford and County and is in Year 11, while Sam is still in Year 10.

Sam has now qualified for the English schools' finals in Leeds next month.

She is competing in Wing this weekend at the final round of the Chiltern League where she is currently lying eighth in the table.

Sam then competes for Bedfordshire in Nottingham at the National Inter-Counties Cross-Country Championships the following weekend.