Clifton schoolboy Ryan Parker has finished the cross-country season with a bang. He finished second in Saturday s international race in Dublin and helped the England team win gold. Ryan was representing his country against the top eight runners from Scotl

Clifton schoolboy Ryan Parker has finished the cross-country season with a bang.

He finished second in Saturday's international race in Dublin and helped the England team win gold.

Ryan was representing his country against the top eight runners from Scotland, Ireland and Wales.

It completes a cross-country season which has also taken in journeys to Nottingham, Sunderland and Leeds.

Proud mum Linda said: "We're grateful to Ryan's school, Samuel Whitbread, for paying the money needed for the race in Dublin and for their total support for all his running.

"And to Hertfordshire Timber Supplies in Letchworth who have paid accommodation and petrol for two of Ryan's races recently. For the Sunderland trip, they paid £140 which was a great help to us."

n Sandy's Natasha Peters and former Hitchin Girls' School pupil Rachel Gibbs were part of the Bedford and County AC team that won gold at the Southern Road Relays at Milton Keynes on Sunday.

Natasha, who won bronze at the recent English schools' cross-country, showed speed on the road this time running the second leg for her club and gaining 14 places to put them in contention with a time of 19:18.

Rachel (shown right) then ran a storming fourth leg in 18:34 - the ninth fastest of the day - lifting Bedford and County into a challenging second place.

Internationals Sharon Morris and Jo Wilkinson then finished the job in bringing home Bedford first to retain their title won in 2006.