Westmere School dominate at the Aranui Interschool Cross Country in Whanganui

Like a well-oiled machine the 28th annual Aranui Interschool Cross Country again took centre stage for 30 primary and intermediate schools from throughout the greater Whanganui region in Castlecliff on Wednesday.

Just before the first race kicked into action, a total of 446 kids had registered to race in four events beginning with the 9 years and under girls and followed by the boys 9 years and under, the 10 years and over girls and 10 years and over boys.

Westmere won the Andersons Cup, while Hunterville claimed the Bretons Garage Cup against stiff opposition.

The Andersons Cup is awarded to the school with the best performances based on the first four home in each of the four races, while the Bretons Garage Cup goes to the school with the best performances based on the first two home in each of the four events.

St Johns were dominant winning the Booth Family Cup (junior girls 2-to-count) and Westmere was to the fore yet again taking the Lamberts Business Supplies Cup (senior boys 2-to-count), the Kitchen Contours Cup (senior 2-to-count) and the Timms Engravers Cup (junior boys 2-to-count).

The Principal's Cup for the best performance school with less than 75 children went to Kai Iwi School.

The Madams Cup, presented to the winner of the senior girls race, went to Charlie Cook from Hunterville.

The junior races were run over 1.2km of farmland adjacent to the Castlecliff school, while the senior athletes competed over 1600m.

Aranui principal Maryann Roberts said she was continually astounded at how big the annual event had grown since its inception, when just three schools competed.

"It was an amazing turnout today and thanks must go to the participating schools, the athletes' teachers, coaches, supporters and parents, and to the many helpers who volunteered here to help make it the success that it was," Roberts said.

"Our neighbours were very generous too providing paddocks for us to use for the track."

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

9 YEARS AND UNDER GIRLS
JUNIOR GIRLS CHAMPION: Hannah Byram (St Georges) 1, Isla Jones (St Johns) 2, Jessica Keenan (Hunterville) 3.

9 YEARS AND UNDER BOYS
JUNIOR BOYS CHAMPION: Maks Reitsma (Fordell) 1, Xavier Booth (Westmere) 2, Kaleb Compton (Westmere) 3.

10 YEARS AND OVER GIRLS
MADAMS FAMILY CUP
SENIOR GIRLS CHAMPION: Charlie Cook (Hunterville) 1, Emily Corcoran (Westmere) 2, Rebacca Boden-Cave (St Georges) 3.

10 YEARS AND OVER BOYS
SENIOR BOYS CHAMPION: Hamish Cranstone (Fordell) 1, Zak Papworth (St Johns) 2, Maximus Mathews (St Annes) 3.