Vale Royal athletic club took part in the National (AAAs) cross country relays at Mansfield on Saturday. The massive event attracted nine hundred and sixty teams from all over the country which made it extremely exciting to be part of the championships.

Vale Royal were proud to have sixteen full teams running and were introduced to the thousands of spectators as the North of England U 17 ladies champions.

The clubs u13 girls of Sarah Nolan, Elizabeth Pegg and Nina Scott - Smith finished in 53rd,just 10 secondsd behind Nottingham and ahead of clubs like Sale.  Lizzy Thomas, Jess Carswell and Becky Ollier in 63rd team place,  also running were Charlotte Hickson and Annie Saunders who really enjoyed the undulating course.

Vale Royals u15 girls of Cathy Stringer, Nikki Meadows and Kate Howard finished in 15th well up with the top clubs in a race won by Aldershot .The girls were just behind Sale and beat clubs like Bedford and county (Paula Ratcliffes club) Derby and Blackburn. The team of Danielle Jones, Sophie Axford and Chloe Bithell finished in 39th beating A teams from Bristol , Birchfield and Nottingham.

Vale Royals talented u17s of Hannah Weedall ,Laura Lambert and Stevie Stockton finished in 4th place only 29 seconds behind WINNERS Halesown ,Aldershot were second and Rotherham third .Vale Royal were one place ahead of Sale and ahead of Bristol Newcastle, Leeds and Gateshead.  Both Hanna Weedall and Laura Lambert were extremely unfortunate to suffer heavy falls, but managed to recover ground to finish an excellent fourth position.

The clubs strength was shown when the second string team of Louise Bosson, Rachel Clews and Lorna Timms  finished in a top class position of 24th ahead of  A teams from York, Derby ,Sheffield and Hull.

Emily Deaman, Vicky Jones and Sophie McCellan finished in 47th just behind Nene Valley and ahead of Nottinghams A team.

The u20s team of Becky Ellis, Gemma Lievesley and Kate Spilsbury finished in 22nd in a race won by Bedford and County and were ahead of Tipton and Ipswich.

The clubs u13 boys of Andrew Miles, David Nicholson and Matthew Griffiths finished in 27th in a race won by Aldershot.  The boys were one place behind Bristol and ahead of Derby and Staffordshire.

Vales Royals u15s of Andrew Clews,Andrew Perry and Kieran Kinvig finished in 59th ,just ahead of Mansfield .

The clubs highly rated u17 boys of James Griffiths ,Ryan Smith and Glen George finished in 12th place in a race won by Norwich and were just ahead of City of Stoke and Birchfield.

u17s Tom Heaward ,Zach Cross and Lee Davenport finished in 42nd - just ahead of Morpeth and Lincoln.The clubs third team of Chris Perry,Mike Carroll and Peter Cox finished in 61st -just behind Bingley A team and ahead of Doncaster's A team.

The clubs senior men's teams were also in action, Tom Carter, George Thompson, Graham Miles and Gareth Williams finished in a very good 65th in a race won by Morpeth. The second string team of David Gough, Tony Archer, James Edwards and Darren Cottier finished in 101st - just behind Mansfield and ahead of Rotherham.

The club were delighted to have 16 full teams in the national championships and coaches from the club claimed it was the best ever attended championships ever by the club, plus the exceptional results from athletes.

Well done to everyone that ran!!!!!!