New Forest Juniors didn't feature among the high finishers in the AAA Nike Young Athletes' Relays at Sutton Coldfield - but relished tough competition on a hilly 3.861-kilometre course.

The under-13 girls came 55th out of 74 teams with Alice Cole running the first leg in 16min 18sec, followed by Gemma Knell (18.02) and Hayley Platt (18.44).

Becky Knell led the under-15 girls in 16.56. Backed by Nickola Wells (19.19) and Laura Vine (18.39), the juniors finished 61st of 69.

NFJ's under-17 women travelled to the Midlands hoping for at least a top-half finish and almost achieved it with 18th of 39 teams. Hayley Pointer was best-placed athlete in tenth (14.52) and Laura Pankhurst (16.04) and Charlotte Bates (16.10) ran well.

The Juniors were delighted to field a boys' team for the first time in the under-13 race, finishing 56th of 61. Graham Nelson clocked 15.41, Will Thompson 16.16 and Chris Loader 18.53.

Parents of budding athletes in the New Forest schools' district can contact Tim Wilding on 023 8084 8914.