READING Athletic Club Under 20s produced a brilliant performance to finish third in the English National Cross Country Championship – the first time they have won medals in this age group at this event.

Alex Sutton led the way by finishing 30th in 30min 12secs, with Isaac Farnworth (37th), Sam Rodda (38th, both in 30.30), Marr Rawlings (54th in 31.01) and Peter Cook (92nd in 32.22) also running well.

Ed Stockdale (200th in 41.32), Luc Jolly (292nd in 42.42), Arturo Martinez De Murguia (525th in 45.11) and Rob Tan (576th in 45.46) all ran well in the 2006-strong field taking part in the seniors' race.

In the U17 women's 5km race, Naomi Harris had another strong run finishing 34th in a time of 19.30.

She was backed up by fine efforts from Abi Hancock (64th in 20.26), Georgia Whalley (98th in 21.07) and Renee Whalley (114th in 21.35) to gain the Reading team an excellent seventh place.

There were good runs, too, from Alannah Chadwick in 123rd place (21.46) and Oonagh O'Driscoll in 187th (23.53).

For the U13 girls in their 3km race, Ella Newman once again had a good run, finishing 80th in 12.06, as did Evie Elson in 95th position with 12.11.

The improving Lydia Godfrey and Lola Butt finished 204th and 216th in times of 12.58 and 13.02 to give the team 19th place, while Lizzie Ryan and Emma Yeadon ran well for 274th and 291st recording 13.30 and 13.34.

First home for Reading's U15 girls in their 4km race was Talia Painting in 165th place in 17.51, followed by Katie Barnes who worked through the field for 245th place in 18.50.

Jemima Crocker and Scarlet Taplin also ran well to finish 257th and 266th in 19.03 and 19.14, which gave the team 31st place.

In the U15 boys' 4km race, Oliver Craggs was again Reading's leading runner, making a strong effort throughout to finish in 107th place in a time of 15.08.

Next home for Reading was Aryan Gupta, running determinedly for 171st position in 15.38, and on this occasion getting the better of Laurie Baker, who kept going well for 198th, recording 15.52.

The team was completed by Bradley West, in only his second cross-country run for Reading, who persevered for 317th in 18.02 to give Reading 27th place in the team competition.

For Reading's U13 boys in their 3km race, Edward Lewis ran with his usual commitment to finish 115th in a time of 11.30, and not far behind came Samuel Lindsey-Halls with a strong run for 146th place in 11.41. Behind them Adam Tivey came through with a strong finish to 298th with a time of 12.45.

Ben Rollings and Joseph Mott, stalwarts of the U17 team throughout the season, were Reading's only two representatives in their 6km race.

Rollings maintained his recent fine form with an excellent effort for 69th place in a time of 20.56, and Mott had a good solid run to finish 166th in 22.49.