TWELVE primary schools and more than 300 pupils took part in the Spring District Cross Country Race’s held at Farnham Park, with St Polycarp’s School coming out on top.

It was a tough competition with 378 children taking part, making it a not-so-easy run for St Polycarp’s.

However, the school was named the overall winners and was awarded the Scott Bell Cup, with St Peter’s School coming in second place and South Farnham School in third.

The boys’ team cup was won by St Peter’s and the girls’ team cup was won by St Polycarp’s.

The individual gold medals went to Rudy Marrell of William Cobbett School and Jemima Rowan of Waverley Abbey School.

St Polycarp’s put its success down to the implementation of its daily running project. The aim is that all children should leave year six being able to run a mile in 15 minutes – 100 per cent of the current year six intake have already achieved this.

Deputy head Karen Trafford said: “At the beginning of the project 15 per cent of the 417 children from four to 11 could run a mile in 15 minutes or under. When measured this March, 56 per cent of our children can now run their mile in this time.

“Six per cent can run two miles plus in 15 minutes or under. The impact on their overall fitness, behaviour and resilience in lessons has been very positive. A video of the daily run can be found on our St Polycarp’s website.

“Four of our children recently presented our project to other schools in Surrey at the Surrey Sports, Best Practice Forum in Leatherhead.”

As well as this the school has produced a guide to setting up the daily run in other primary schools, using its experience. St Peter’s, which won the boys’ trophy, has also recently started the daily run.