More than 900 pupils from 15 schools braved slippery conditions, uneven terrain and a biting wind in pursuit of cross-country glory today.

The annual inter-school endurance test at Highfield and Brookham School saw U8 children race over 1.3k, U9 and U10 children compete over two kilometres, and U11 to U13 runners tackle a three-kilometre course.

And they were joined by Highfield and Brookham Head Suzannah Cryer, who ran alongside the U10 children in preparation for her London Landmarks Half-Marathon charity run in April in aid of the Highfield Centenary Bursaries Fund.

The popular annual run across the sports pitches and through the vast woodland at the co-educational day and boarding school in Liphook attracted children from independent schools across Hampshire, Surrey and West Sussex.

And the determined girls and boys, who competed in a dozen races around the picturesque but tricky circuit, dug deep as they tackled slippery slopes, a chill wind and energy-sapping mud on the flatter parts of the course which added an extra degree of difficulty to the course.

Mrs Cryer said: “To say conditions for the young runners were difficult would be an understatement, but the children showed great strength of character and real resilience as they put their best feet forward in the name of their respective schools.

“I’m immensely proud of all the boys and girls who took part and who were a real credit not only to their schools but also to themselves.”

Medals were awarded to the top three finishers in each category as well as the winning teams in each race, with Highfield’s U9 girls claiming victory in the Year 4 race.