A SCHOOLGIRL is proving to be a runaway success as her passion for sport secures her a major title.
Barnard Castle School student India Pentland has been named Junior Girls County Cross Country Champion 2016.
The 13-year-old, of Manfield, near Richmond, has enjoyed growing success for the past two years and the latest title is proving to be a real boost at the start of the new season.
India competed at Meadowfield in the Durham County Schools’ Cross-country Championships.
Her victory will see her go on to represent Durham County at the Inter-Counties in two weeks time, where she will compete against Northumbria, Cumbria and Cleveland.
She said: “As County Champion I’ve secured a place in the English Schools Team, as I did last year, which is great. I’m currently in training for the next event, which is at Wollaton Park, Nottingham, in March.”
At club level India is hoping to be picked again for the North East team, which brings together the top eight athletes in each category across Durham, Northumberland and Cleveland. The top six from this group then go on to run the London Mini Marathon.
North East team managers will study the results from the Northern Cross Country Championships in order to make their selection with the successful runners competing in the Inter Counties Championships in Birmingham in March, a national event comprising regional teams from across England.
India also enjoys hockey and was part of an unbeaten team last season and is now looking forward to the netball season.
Meanwhile, Caleb Ellis, 14, from Dalton, finished 11th at the County Championships and will also represent the county in two weeks’ time, with a good prospect of reaching the English Schools National Championships in March.