DOLLAR Academy’s traditional Cross Country Championships took place over a series of days earlier in March with almost 500 pupils signing up to launch themselves across the muddy hillsides above the Hillfoots’ town.

The races were organised by the school’s PE Department in delightfully wet and filthy conditions.

The Junior School event took place on Thursday 5 March, Senior School students ran on Wednesday 11 March and Prep School pupils completed the course the next day, Thursday 12 March.

Mr Newton, head of PE, said: “The pupils seemed to be oblivious to the rain and most seemed to cross the finish line, not only with a relieved smile, but with half the course’s mud still plastered over their bodies.” The younger students, Prep and Junior Schools, undertook a slightly less rigorous course, while the senior’s courses always test strength and endurance more.

All pupils went through training in their PE lessons with many of the top runners spending hours practising in the build-up to the championships.

Thanks go to all who braved the elements up the hills, the recorders in the pavilion, the first aid team and members of staff who stayed behind to look after those who decided not to compete.

Results: Senior School Cross Country Championships 2015 Form 1 Boys 1st Orson Potter 2nd Duncan Montford 3rd Jamie Fulton Form 1 Girls 1st Ruby Simpson 2nd Lucy Smith 3rd Emma Mailer Intermediate Boys 1st Peter Bery 2nd Anthony Quinn 3rd Euan Bremner Intermediate Girls 1st Jenny Walls 2nd Lucy Ross 3rd Catriona laing Senior Boys 1st Thomas Henson 2nd Ewan Randfield 3rd Sam Ward Senior Girls 1st Sophie Ross 2nd Isla Cubitt 3rd Rebecca Johns Junior School Results Junior 2 Boys 1st Ben Salmon 2nd Toby Smith 3rd Adam Holden Junior 2 Girls 1st Rachel Leslie 2nd Florence Henderson 3rd Milly Hamilton Junior 1 Girls 1st Catrin McClean 2nd Sorcha Williams 3rd Akira West Junior 1 Boys 1st Ewan McKenzie 2nd Evan Rennie 3rd Daniel Pearson Prep School Results Prep 5 Boys 1st Ruaridh Blyth 2nd Luke Kennedy 3rd Oliver Wilson Prep 5 Girls 1st Megan License 2nd Maya Miller 3rd Paige Stevens Prep 4 Boys 1st Harry Carman 2nd John Hulme 3rd Blair Buchanan Prep 4 Girls 1st Riley Thomson 2nd Emily Norval 3rd Mia Foster