JAMES Downing of Huntingdonshire AC conquered a field of 136 runners to win the 1.5-mile Junior race at the Frostbite League series meeting in Bushfield, Peterborough. Competing against runners up to two years older than him, 13-year-old Downing pushed Ri

JAMES Downing of Huntingdonshire AC conquered a field of 136 runners to win the 1.5-mile Junior race at the Frostbite League series meeting in Bushfield, Peterborough.

Competing against runners up to two years older than him, 13-year-old Downing pushed Riverside Runners' Matt Nicholson into second place to win by six seconds in 7mins 12secs.

Downing's team-mate Luke Scott finished fourth, with George Allen just a place further back, and Faye McLellan finished as the sixth girl.

The team standings were headed by Riverside Runners, who had second-place Nicholson and seventh-placed Tom Stead to thank, with Hunts AC in second overall.

George Girvan was the top BRJ Club junior, completing the course in 10mins 44secs to help his team to 12th overall.

In the Senior five-mile race, Dave Connell was the first of Hunts AC's finishers, coming 12th out of nearly 500 runners. Julia McIntosh led home the women's section as the 15th woman home. Those results gave the Senior team another fifth-place finish overall, but their consistent performances put them fourth after two races.

Riverside's Blue team of 19 runners finished eighth, and 12 Yellow team runners finished 12th.

The BRJ Club sent 34 seniors and three juniors to the meeting, with Michael Wenn and Dan Avondoglio clocking identical times of 29mins 45secs to finish in 37th and 38th places respectively. Rachel Real was the top woman in 269th, giving the Seniors 11th place overall.