DEBUTANT Adam Hicks stole the show for Eastleigh & District Junior AC in the Wessex Cross-Country League opener at Glastonbury.

The newcomer made his mark with tenth place in the under-15 boys' race, backed by Chris Goller (19th), Tom Ingram (23rd) and Anthony Padilla (24th).

For the under-15 girls, Natasha Smith finished 36th on her cross-country debut, and in the under-13 girls' section Bethany Woodhouse was 17th ahead of four more newcomers to the event - Melody Young (40th), Emily Ball (45th), Ruby Shaw 46th) and Charlotte Bintcliffe (47th).

The under-13 boys were led home by Arron Brown (22nd) and Joe Mills (23rd), with good support from Calum Bressington (32nd) and Shaun Doney (35th).

In the under-11 boys' race JJ Peters was seventh, Stuart Phillips ninth, Morgan Bressington 14th, Adam Samuel 15th and Chad Mansergh 19th.

Alice Blackman was the first under-11 girl in 13th closely followed by Ellie Henderson (14th) and Nicola Smith (23rd).

The under-17 girls of New Forest Juniors excelled in the opening Hampshire Cross-Country League meeting at Farley Mount.

Hayley Pointer demonstrated her enthusiasm for cross-country with a solid third place and, with Laura Pankhurst (8th) and Sarah Pace (28th) following close behind, the NFJ team came third.

Stephanie Smallwood placed a creditable 23rd in her first under-13 girls' race and her sister, Rachael, was 28th in the under-15 age-group ahead of clubmate Nikola Wells (37th).

The following day several club runners travelled to Glastonbury Tor for the start of the Wessex Cross-Country League season.

Despite the windy conditions, NFJ's under-13 girls found the course to their liking with Alice Cole sixth, Amelia Faulkner-White seventh and debutante Gemma Knell 25th.

Becky Knell came 11th in the under-15 girls' race, while Bethany Cole enjoyed the under-11s' fun run.

Winter training for the Juniors is at Applemore College and Orchard School in Dibden Purlieu. Parents of youngsters interested in most disciplines of athletics can contact chairman Tim Wilding on 023 8084 8914 for more information.