Mud, medals and muddy glory: 800 young runners tackle Highfield and Brookham’s annual cross-country challenge
27th February 2026
Eight hundred pupils from 15 schools descended on Highfield and Brookham School in Liphook for one of the highlight events of the school sporting calendar — its much-loved annual cross-country competition, held on the Friday before half-term.
Young runners from independent and state schools across Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex took on a course that winds across the school’s sports pitches and deep into its extensive woodland — and this year, they faced an extra challenge. Weeks of wet weather had left the ground saturated, turning the trails into an energy-sapping obstacle course of thick mud, slippery slopes and unpredictable terrain. The sun may have shone on race day, but there was no escaping the conditions underfoot.
Competitors aged from eight to 13 years old raced routes ranging from 1.3km for the youngest runners to 3km for the oldest, with every age group facing the same relentless mud. Across 12 races, the children dug deep — and then dug themselves out again — showing the kind of grit, determination and good humour that made this year’s event one of the most memorable in recent memory.
Suzannah Cryer, Head of Highfield and Brookham School, said: “Our annual cross-country competition is always a highlight of the sporting calendar, but this year felt particularly special. The conditions were genuinely tough — the kind that test not just your legs but your resolve — and the children from every single school rose to the challenge magnificently.
“To see so many young athletes pushing themselves, supporting each other and finishing with smiles on their muddy faces was a real joy. The determination and sportsmanship on display were truly impressive and I couldn’t be prouder of everyone who took part.”
Medals were awarded to the top three finishers in each race, with team prizes going to the winning schools. The full list of race winners is below.
Race winners:
Boys: U8 Highfield and Brookham | U9 Hoe Bridge | U10 Aldro | U11 Hoe Bridge | U12 RGS | U13 Twyford
Girls: U8 Westbourne | U9 Edgeborough | U10 Churcher’s Junior | U11 Twyford | U12 Feltonfleet | U13 Amesbury