ONE of the largest sporting events ever held in Kent takes place in Maidstone's Mote Park on Saturday afternoon (Alan Newman writes).

Up to 2,000 competitors, watched by a large crowd, are expected to be present for the English Schools cross country championships which have been two years in the planning.

This will be the 44th boys and 36th girls championships and the event returns to Kent for the first time since 1973.

To reach the English Schools final some 75,000 secondary school children have competed in their own District and County Schools Championships for the honour of representing each of the 44 county teams that will be participating.

The English Schools is the highlight of the winter calendar for the majority of the competitors, although a small number will go on to represent their country in the British Schools international at Ayr, Scotland in two weeks' time.

Racing commences at 12.45pm with the Intermediate Girls and the last race is the Senior Boys event at 3pm.

Individual presentations will take place near the finish behind Mote Park Leisure Centre after each race and the trophies will be presented at 4.15pm in the hall at Maidstone Boys Grammar School opposite the park.

The Kent teams are all expected to give a good account of themselves on the same course that hosted the county schools event is January.

The senior boys team includes GB junior international Steve Fennel (Judd School) and Andrew Welch (Harvey Grammar) in a strong squad.

The intermediate boys have an outstanding chance of success with double county champion Jack Tyler (Howard School) competing with his older brother Ben Tyler (Howard), Tristram Ford (Tonbridge School) and local favourite Jamie Ross-Davies of Maidstone Grammar.

The junior boys team features Chris Haines (Howard School) and Lawrence Clemence (Rochester Maths). Terri Wiley (Minster College) and Eve Bugler (Sevenoaks School) lead the challenge in the senior girls team.

The intermediate girls have been weakened by withdrawals through injury but Catherine Saville of Aylesford School will probably lead the team home.

In the junior girls team both Megan Edwards (Leigh Technology, Dartford) and Rebecca Taylor (Newstead Wood School) are medal prospects.

English Schools Teams and Race Times: Senior Boys (3pm) 6,675 metres: S Fennel (Judd), A Welch (Harvey Grammar), J Davis (Sir Roger Manwood), J Hilary (Judd), M Young (Judd), N Tubb (Judd), D Bradley (West Kent College), S Milligan (Ravensbourne).

Intermediate Boys (1.10pm) 5,200 metres: J Tyler (Howard), B Tyler (Howard), T Ford (Tonbridge), J Ross-Davies (Maidstone Grammar), A Bennett (Judd), A Bailey (Tonbridge), S Dobin (Simon Langton), J Pool (Ravenswood).

Junior Boys (2pm) 4,238 metres: C Haines (Howard), L Clemence (Rochester Maths), S Simpson (Darrick Wood), K Wolfe (Hayesbrooke), C Barnes (Cheyne Middle), D Adamson (Hartsdown), A Bellinger (?), N Moore (St Edmunds).

Senior Girls (2.25pm) 4,238 metres: T Wiley (Minster College), E Bugler (Sevenoaks), L Fawke (Folkestone), R Ward (Dartford Grammar), N Hardman (Rainham Grammar), E Murty (North West Kent College), A Ragouzidas-Clark (Tonbridge), M Wilson (Tonbridge).

Intermediate Girls (12.45pm) 3,660 metres: C Saville (Aylesford), K Murray (Bromley High), C Mitchell (Kings, Canterbury), L Martin (S Langton), S Hunter (Cranbrook), H Miller (Rochester Grammar), S Chalkley (Erith), L Howard (Folkestone).

Junior Girls, (1.40pm) 3,150 metres: M Edwards (Leigh Technology), R Taylor (Newstead Wood), J Cusselle (Bexley Grammar), H Samuel (Sevenoaks), A Smith (Newstead Wood), E Denton (Meopham School), C Sage (Oldborough Manor), H Hickmott (Gravesend Grammar).