Welsh vest is a just reward for flowering Poppy

Poppy Thompson has been selected to represent Wales at the British Schools' Cross-Country Championships in Truro two weeks today.

The 13-year-old Westbury Harrier earned her first Welsh vest after finishing sixth in the junior girls' race at the national championships in Brecon.

"Poppy ran the Welsh Schools' because she is at Haberdashers School in Monmouth," explained proud mum Emma Thompson.

Following that news Thompson, who lives in the hamlet of Ingst between Olveston and Aust, then wrapped up the Under-13 girls' title in the Gwent League by winning the fifth and final fixture at Blaise Castle last weekend.

It was one of two Westbury victories with Ellie Leather claiming the novice girls' title, while both Felix McGrath and Zoe Barber were third in their respective Under-17 age groups.

Westbury also won the novice, Under-15 and Under-17 girls' team titles and were third in the Under-13 girls and Under-17 men's categories, while the senior women were second to TAF Running Club and won the reserve division title.

Gwent League overall positions – senior men: 1 A Davies (Brecon, M40) 1305; 2 Tim Wallis (B&W) 1301; 3 P Cook (Les Croupiers, M40) 1197. Local: 10 Dave Coales (TBAC) 1132; 12 Gregg Ward (WH) 1097; 18 Rick Wallis (WH, M50 1st) 1007; 24 Ben Morley (GWR) 974. Teams: 1 Les Croupiers 5951. 6 Westbury Harriers 5107.

U20 men: 1 Sean Hazell (B&W) 93; 2 Jake Watson (Trots) 83; 3 Mike Kershaw (UWIC) 54. Teams: 1 UWIC 144; 2 Bristol & West 129.

U17 men: 1 Emrys Penny (Newport) 140; 2 Alex Hill (TBAC) 139; 3 Felix McGrath (WH) 109. Local: 7 Chris Hine (TBAC) 80; 10 Matt Deacon (B&W) 73. Teams: 1 Newport Harriers 337; 2 Team Bath AC 322; 3 Westbury Harriers 286; 4 Bristol & West AC 219.

U15 boys: 1 Mike Ward (Cardiff) 213. Local: 9 Zak Tobias (B&W) 126. Teams: 1 Carmarthen 582; 4 Bristol & West AC 437; 11 Westbury Harriers 162; 12 Team Bath 144.

U13 boys: 1 Oliver Fox (Wells) 259; 2 John Cove (Cardiff) 245; 3 Charlie Martin (Wells) 237. Teams: 1 Cardiff 854; 8 Westbury Harriers 331; 13 Bristol & West AC 147; 14 Team Bath 138.

Novice boys: 1 Ed Penhaligan (St Johns) 178; 2 Aled Phillips (Amman) 171; 3 Robert Howarth (TBAC) 148; 4 John Howarth (TBAC) 143.

Senior women: 1 K Roberts (Bridgend) 696. Local: 10 Debbie Cleary (WH) 540; 16 C Ross (TRC) 476; 17 Wendy Tippett (WH, W45) 474. Teams: 1 TAF Running 3047; 2 Westbury Harriers 2792; 3 Les Croupiers 2764; 6 Bristol & West AC 2189. Div II: 1 Cardiff Uni 2308; 2 Thornbury Running Club 1881 (both promoted). Res Div: 1 Westbury Harriers 1584.

U17 women: 1 Rhianwedd Price (Brecon) 106; 2 Ffion Price (Brecon) 97; 3 Zoe Barber (WH) 92. Local: 4 Olivia Sadler (B&W) 87; 5 Rebecca Barlow (WH) 76; 6 Imogen Wosley (TBAC) 74. Teams: 1 Westbury Harriers 237; 2 Brecon 202; 3 Cardiff 193; 4 Bristol & West AC 136; 6 Team Bath 107.

U15 girls: 1 Annie Ingram (TBAC) 200. Local: 8 Miranda Sadler (B&W) 144; 9 Iris McNeill (WH) 135. Teams: 1 Westbury Harriers 512; 2 Cwmbran 401; 3 Team Bath 395; 13 Bristol & West 200.

U13 girls: 1 Poppy Thompson (WH) 325; 2 Poppy Lewis (Pembrokeshire) 315; 3 Jemma Jones (Wells) 314. Teams: 1 Taunton AC 1127; 2 Wells & Yeovil 1117; 3 Westbury Harriers 997; 8 North Somerset AC 590; 16 Bristol & West AC 203.

Novice girls: 1 Ellie Leather (WH) 296; 2 Issy Morris (Blaina) 294; 3 Bethan Evans (Pontyclun) 281. 9 Fenella Ford (WH) 234. Teams: 1 Westbury Harriers 959; 9 North Somerset AC 340.