REUBEN Henry-Daire secured an impressive individual victory in the Under 13 race at the Berkshire Cross Country Championships at Maidenhead on Saturday, leading Reading Athletic Club’s U13 boys team to the bronze medals.

There was also a comfortable team victory for the U15 boys in their event.

In the U13 3km race, Henry-Daire was among the leading group from the start on a course that was heavy after overnight rain.

Running his best race of the season to date, Henry-Daire had the strength to break away in the final kilometre to win by three seconds in a time of 11m 41secs.

There was some excellent packing from the next few Reading lads, with Jack Webb’s fine effort gaining him 14th in 13:00, just ahead of Charlie Shaw’s determined run for 15th place in 13:02.

The reliable Laurie Baker completed the scoring team as he placed 17th in 13:07, just one second ahead of a strong run from Elio Babb in 18th.

Next to finish for Reading was Dominic Parsons, who showed improved form for 22nd in 13:20, while Aryan Gupta, Ben McCabe and Harry Moor all ran with great determination for their 25th, 26th and 30th places, recording 13:42, 13:43 and 14:05 respectively.

Reading’s total of 47 points gave them third place behind Windsor and Bracknell, and the B team’s total of 91 secured them an excellent fifth.

For the U15s in their 5km race, Ben Rollings moved through the field well to finish fourth in a time of 18:40, leading a strong team performance.

Next for Reading was the reliable Joseph Mott in ninth place, recording 19:21, followed by a much-improved run from Mattie Raynor in 10th with 19:32.

Tom Rickards’ determined effort completed the scoring team in 11th in 19:59, and Leon Bradshaw battled hard for 12th in 20:14.

Behind them Olly Moor and Tom Crook both persevered well for 17th and 20th places with times of 21:26 and 21:40 respectively. Reading’s team total of 34 points gave them a well-deserved victory ahead of Cookham, with Windsor third.

The only real disappointment for Reading AC came in the 6km U17 race, with so many of the club’s strong squad unavailable through injury or illness.

However, Sam Rodda, himself building up his training following recent injury, ran a fine race to finish fourth in a time of 20:28, 24 seconds behind the winner, having been in contention till past halfway.

The U17 women’s team of Georgia Hayes, Ceri Barnes, individual winner Kirsty Walker and Kate Rodda, finished second, while the U20s – made up of Lydia Blythe, Georgia Walton, and Kate McKim – were victorious.

There was also a fine performance from Anna Boniface, who was runner-up in the individual senior’s competition.

Meanwhile, Reading's Harry Roe had a good third-place finish in the Oxfordshire Championships at Stowe.