The Shiplake College Primary and Prep Schools’ Cross-Country Competition returned for its fifth year on Saturday 7 February 2026. Despite weeks of rain leading up to the event, the morning itself remained relatively dry, helping produce the 'perfect' cross-country race conditions - complete with plenty of mud!
Overall 132 girls and boys from Years 1 to 6 participated, an increase on last year's 118. It was particularly pleasing, however, to see the number of different schools representing - with runners from 38 different primary and prep schools, a big increase from the 23 represented the year before.
The Headmaster, Mr Howe, along with his dog, Simba, were waiting at the finish line to award gold, silver and bronze medals to the first three finishers of each race on the Shiplake podium. Every participant was given a certificate with their position marked on the front, and received juice and a bag of Haribo sweets.
The Director of Sport, Mr Bradley, was on duty at the start line and he was joined by a group of sports leaders who helped make the event go so smoothly - not only were they helping marshal, carpark, distribute certificates and sweets, but they also acted as hares and tortoises for each race, ensuring the fastest knew the route to take and the ones at the back had company and encouragement.
Congratulations to the following runners and schools:
Year 1
| Girls (8 Runners) | Boys (13 Runners) |
|---|---|
| 1st: Athena Victoria (Maltman's Green) | 1st: Arlo Henley (St Martin's Primary) |
| 2nd: Grace Ronald (St Piran's) | 2nd: Otto Williams (Kidmore End Primary) |
| 3rd: Tiggy Molner (Rupert House) | 3rd: Bertie Holland (Kidmore End Primary) |
Year 2
| Girls (6 Runners) | Boys (12 Runners) |
|---|---|
| 1st: Jessica Rose (Trinity Primary) | 1st: Isaac Cotter (Sonning Common Primary) |
| 2nd: Nina Lambourne (Trinity Primary) | 2nd: Jack Newton (Sandygate Primary) |
| 3rd: Olivia Hutchings (Nettlebed Primary) | 3rd: Harrison Baar (Rupert House) |
Well done to Jessica who also came first in her Year 1 race in 2025. Harrison reached the podium again having come first last year, with Isaac improving significantly on his fifth place, to come first this year!
Year 3
| Girls (6 Runners) | Boys (10 Runners) |
|---|---|
| 1st: Priya Gibson (Holy Trinity Primary) | 1st: Jack Wright (Goring Primary) |
| 2nd: Sienna Lakin (Nettlebed Primary) | 2nd: Finley Moore (Holy Trinity Primary) |
| 3rd: Penny Newport (Goring Primary) | 3rd: Harrison Williams (Goring Primary) |
Well done to Penny who reached the podium again this year, following her first place finish in 2025.
Year 4
| Girls (17 Runners) | Boys (21 Runners) |
|---|---|
| 1st: Trixie Dawes (Cookham Dean Primary) | 1st: Archie Boreham (St Piran's) |
| 2nd: Olive Gilbey (Rupert House) | 2nd: Chester Boreham (St Piran's) |
| 3rd: Alethea Scrimgeour (High March) | 3rd: Henry Cuthburt (Rupert House) |
Congratulations to Olive who improved on her sixth place finish in the Year 3 race in 2025 to reach the podium this year.
Year 5
| Girls (8 Runners) | Boys (16 Runners) |
|---|---|
| 1st: Sophie Longden (Oratory Prep) | 1st: Louis Stevens (Lowbrook Academy) |
| 2nd: Rone Bosling (High March) | 2nd: Edward Watts (Cranford School) |
| 3rd: Isla Duncan (High March) | 3rd: Finley Thompson (Davenies) |
Congratulations to Sophie who came second in the Year 4 race in 2025, and third in the Year 3 race in 2024!
Year 6
| Girls (6 Runners) | Boys (9 Runners) |
|---|---|
| 1st: Imogen Beever Sacred Heart Primary) | 1st: Cillian Sheers (St Piran's) |
| 2nd: Cecily Wyer (St Andrew's, Berkshire) | 2nd: Brontë Islam (Davenies) |
| 3rd: Martha Cary (Shiplake Primary) | 3rd: William O'Connor (Trinity Primary) |
Congratulations to Cillian who also came first in his Year 5 race in 2025, and to William who achieved third in the 2025 race as well.
Thank you to the following Sports Leaders for their help:
- Indigo Doherty
- Rory O'Boyle
- Max Jobson
- Alex Hooker
- Zac Fisher
- Oli Bailey
- Dessie Bradley
- Maisie Redston
- Lara Coles
- Niamh Quinn
- Chloe Pendlebury
- Tash Pendlebury
