THERE was success at senior and junior level for a string of Ludlow athletes at a pair of important cross country meetings recently.

Ludlow Runners pair Amy Fulford and Alice Godding led the way for the club with first and third place respectively at the latest Herefordshire Cross Country League event.

And there were first places for Bedstone College students Agnes Ayres and Sam Wadsworth at the Midlands Independent Schools Association Cross Country Championships.

The senior event, held at Fforest Fields campsite, was the fourth race in the Herefordshire Cross Country League season.

It was held in icy and slippery conditions but Ludlow’s former league champion Fulford, running in her first race of this year’s series, made light of the testing terrain.

She stormed to victory by more than a minute from Ledbury Harriers’ Holly Gourley in 49.21 mins.

Godding ensured there were two Ludlow runners on the podium by seeing off Rhayader’s Jo Rees to claim third place in a sprint finish, recording a time of 50.34mins.

The duo’s efforts, combined with veteran athlete Tina Cartwright’s 30th place finish, helped Ludlow claim third spot in the team standings on the day but they sit fifth for the season overall.

The men’s race was won by host club Builth’s Tim Iveson – his fourth successive victory with Craig Collier the first Ludlow Runners athlete home in 18th place in a time of 47.16mins.

The schools’ championships, meanwhile, were held at Bedstone College, with home runners Ayres and Wadsworth winning the under-9s girls’ race and under-11 boys’ race respectively.

More than 1,000 pupils from more than 30 Shropshire schools took part in the event, which is a prelude to the national championships.