TOCKINGTON Manor School has excelled in cross country and not for the first time, with Year Eight student Dalis Jones winning in her age group at the first Gloucestershire League meet at Little Rissington.

The 2.9km Cotswolds race commenced on Saturday, October 29, and saw 33 of the Manor pupils running on behalf of the preparatory school.

Jones came first in the U13 Girls category, completing the race with a time that was 49 seconds ahead of her closest competitor.

Other top ten finalists were Alys Wakeling who came 7th in the U11 Girls, Logan Fitzpatrick who came 9th in the U’11 Boys, and Ceredig Jones who came 9th in the U13 boys.

Tockington Manor students train for cross country once a week from September to March by running through the beautiful grounds and across open farmland.

The school regularly have their students in the top-10 of single and team events throughout the year, and take great pride in competing at the top level.

Tockington Manor foster a belief in self-improvement, with all students encouraged to race against themselves and improve on their own personal times each week, and it's clearly having the desired effect.

The Preparatory School excel in cross country, having been perennial champions in the team events.

And it was to be another good weekend in Little Rissington.

Dalis Jones' first place in her age group is no mean feat given the gruelling course the students undertook.

Jones also won the 1st Gwent League cross country in Bridgend where she represented the Westbury Harriers.

A statement taken from the Tockington Manor School Facebook account read: "Once again our pupils raised the bar at the 1st Gloucestershire League meet at Little Rissington, 29th October.

"33 Tockington students represented the school at this prestigious event, and we are immensely proud of every one of them."