Massive cross country turnout

THEY'RE OFF: The Year 9 and under girls jockey for position at the start of the 1.2km race at the 26th Aranui Interschool Cross Country in Castlecliff yesterday.

The defending champions retained the two major titles at the 26th Aranui Interschool Cross Country in Castlecliff yesterday.

St Johns Hill won the Andersons Cup, while Westmere again claimed the Bretons Garage Cup against stiff opposition.

The Andersons For Men Team 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 School dominant as usual also winning the Booth Family Cup (junior girls 2-to-count) and the Lamberts Business Supplies Cup (senior boys 2-to-count).

Westmere bagged the Kitchen Contours Cup (senior 2-to-count), while Hunterville won the Timms Engravers Cup (junior boys 2-to-count) and the Principal's Cup for the best performance school with less that 75 children went to St Georges School.

The Madams Cup presented to the winner of the senior girls race went to Lillah Cornelius from Churton School.

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 astounded how big the annual event had grown since its inception when just three schools competed.

"We hosted 34 schools from throughout the entire region, including those from up country, and that amounted to about 544 athletes," Roberts said yesterday.

"That's an amazing turnout and thanks must go to the participating schools, the athletes' teachers, coaches, supporters and parents, and to the many helpers who volunteered here today to help make it the success that it was. Our neighbours were very generous too providing paddocks for us to use for the track."

Individual results
9 YEARS AND UNDER GIRLS (133 runners)
JUNIOR GIRLS CHAMPION: Mady Petley (Faith City School) 1, Emily Corcoran (Westmere School) 2, Meg Scully-Arnott (South Makirikiri School) 3.
9 YEARS AND UNDER BOYS (140 runners)
JUNIOR BOYS CHAMPION: Connor Rees (Westmere) 1, Oliver Bunn (Hunterville School) 2, Hayden Lourie (Hunterville) 3.
10 YEARS AND OVER GIRLS (129 Runners)
MADAMS FAMILY CUP SENIOR GIRLS CHAMPION: Lillah Cornelius (Churton School) 1, Carrie Rennie (Castlecliff School) 2, Lana O'Connor (Westmere) 3.
10 YEARS AND OVER BOYS (150 runners)
SENIOR BOYS CHAMPION: Chase Morpeth (St Johns Hill School) 1, Matthew Hocquard (Huntley School) 2, Oliver Jones (St Georges) 3.