THERE was a great family double by Brockhill School’s Amy and Alex Hoyland at the Shepway Schools cross country championships staged at Hythe.

Running on home territory at the Hythe school, Amy showed terrific promise in taking the Year 7 girls’ title while Alex won in fine style in the senior boys’ race ahead of two established Kent runners.

Alex won in commanding fashion with 13:37 in the Year 10/11 event by 30 seconds from Pent Valley’s Jon Brisley in 14:07 and third was Harvey’s James Rowland in 14:37 just seconds ahead of teammate Shane Spearpoint.

The Harvey duo’s efforts helped them take the team title with R Newman seventh in 14:48 just a second behind Pent Valley’s Ryan Glendenning. Brockhill were second team with Channel third.

Amy had a terrific battle with Brockhill teammate Claudia Carney clocking 11:21 from Carney’s 11:32.

But Folkestone School for Girls won the team title led by third placed V Ludlow in 12:08, a place ahead of O Walker 12:14 and V Wilson 12:16. Brockhill were again runners-up.

Harvey’s rising young talent William Funnell contrinued his recent fine form in taking the Year 7 boys event comfortably with 9:06 while second placed Matthew Brett (9:31) led his Pent Valley side to the team title while third team Brockhill’s star runner was Martin Wilkins with 9:37.

FSG swept the board in the Year 8/9 girls race taking six of the top seven places including the top six led by Leah Howard in 10:59, Emma Funnell in 11:13 and J Newman 11:47. Justine Norris broke up their run in six with 12:00 to help Pent Valley to second team.

Kent and Ashford runner Danielle Crispin gave hosts Brockhill a comfortrable win in the Year 10/11 girls with 10:18 from Pent Valley’s Sammy-Jo Norris with 11:01 and FSG took the next three places to earn the team title.

Their leading runners were T Pickering 11:34, S Sleap 11:35 and I Smith 11:47.

Brockhill were runners-up and Pent Valley third. Shepway’s best athletes, except Year 7 will represent the district in the Kent Schools championships being hosted by Brockhill School on January 18.

Harvey won the overall boys title and FSG dominated in the girls winning all three age groups to also retain the overall crown with ease.