John all set for debut in national finals (From Gazette & Herald)

John all set for debut in national finals

LADY Lumley's School pupil John Peel will be competing against some of the top young cross-country runners in the country next month after qualifying for the English Athletic Association National Schools finals.

John, who is in year 11 and comes from Thornton-le-Dale, earned his place in the three-mile intermediate race in Brighton on March 8 after finishing in the top eight of the North Yorkshire schools' county championship in Richmond earlier this year.

John has represented the Scarborough and District area before but this will be his first trip to the English schools finals.

He said: "I'm thrilled to be going to Brighton. I'm really looking forward to it." PE teacher Richard Buckley said: "We're delighted with John. He's worked really hard for it and it's an honour for the school to be represented in the national finals."

Fellow Lady Lumley's pupil Richard Buck has been given a £200 support grant from the Ron Pickering Memorial Trust. The under-17s northern champion and 400m record-holder has been given the money by the trust in recognition of his good performances.

Updated: 09:38 Wednesday, February 26, 2003