Young Runners Celebrated at Schools Challenge Awards Ceremony
PRESS RELEASE: Tuesday 21st March
Young Runners Celebrated at Schools Challenge Awards Ceremony
Local schoolchildren were recognised for their outstanding achievements at the Schools Challenge Awards Ceremony, held on Sunday 22 April, following this year’s hugely successful Mini Marathon, part of the Green Park Reading Half Marathon.
Hosted at the Green Park Conference Centre, the celebratory evening brought together young runners, families, teachers and supporters to honour performances in the popular 1.5-mile Mini Marathon race. The event continues to be a highlight of the wider race programme, encouraging participation, fitness and community spirit among school-aged children.
The Schools Challenge remains at the heart of the Mini Marathon, with hundreds of pupils from across the region taking part each year in the fun and inclusive event.
Awards were presented across a range of age categories for both boys and girls, including Under 7, Under 9, Under 11, Under 13 and Under 15. Team prizes were awarded to the top-performing schools, where teams of three runners competed for top honours*, while individual accolades recognised exceptional performances on race day.
The evening celebrated not only competition but also participation, with organisers praising the enthusiasm and commitment shown by all involved. The Schools Challenge continues to inspire the next generation of runners, offering a fun and accessible introduction to organised sport while strengthening links between schools and the wider community.
U7 Girls
1st Place: Birch Copse Primary School. Team Members: Emily, Ottilie, Kayal
U7 Boys
1st Place: Crosfields School. Team Members: Reuben, Tommaso, Alessandro
U9 Girls
1st Place: Springfield Primary. Team Members: Macy, Isla, Amber
2nd Place: Birch Copse Primary School. Team Members: Hebe, Emmeline, Isla
3rd Place: Radstock Primary School. Team Members: Olivia, Imogen E, Imogen S
U9 Boys
1st Place: Green Park Village Academy. Team Members: Harvey, Oskar, Stefan
2nd Place: Crosfields School. Team Members: Frederick, Bohan, Ishaan
3rd Place: Springfield Primary. Team Members: Noah, Harry, Auryn
U11 Girls
1st Place: Geoffrey Field Junior School. Team Members: Khystyna, Savannah, Sofia
2nd Place: Springfield Primary. Team Members: Arabella, Emmy, Imogen
3rd Place: St Mary and Allsaints C.E Primary. Team Members: Alizah, Sweet, Sunshine
U11 Boys
1st Place: Geoffrey Field Junior School. Team Members: Olaf, Aleks, Daniel
2nd Place: Crosfields School. Team Members: Dexter, Alhan, Ken
3rd Place: Radstock Primary. Team Members: James, Amay, Dhairya
U13 Girls
1st Place: Denefield School. Team Members: Erin, Cora, Rebeca
2nd Place: The Willink School. Team Members: Evie, Flo, Penny
3rd Place: Hillside. Team Members: Annabelle, Isabella, April
U13 Boys
1st Place: Maiden Erlegh. Team Members: Ben, Rory, Krish
2nd Place: Crosfields School. Team Members: Tine, Oliver, Taku
3rd Place: Springfield Primary. Team Members: Theo, Cian, Mason
U15 Girls
1st Place: Maiden Erlegh. Team Members: Victoria, Emmie, Nicole
2nd Place: The Holt School, Team Members: Grace, Tsz Tung, Isabelle
U15 Boys
1st Place: Abingdon School. Team Members: Harry, Henry, Benjamin
2nd Place: Reading Boys. Team Members: Samuel, Eryk, Alex
3rd Place: Maiden Erlegh. Team Members: Fergus, Christopher, Matthew
U17 Girls
1st Place: The Abbey School. Team Members: Georgia, Ipek, Mariann
U17 Boys
1st Place: Maiden Erlegh. Team Members: Rafael, Dominic, Max
2nd Place: Reading Blue Coat School, Team Members: Massimo, Arav, Oscar
Overall School
Maiden Erlegh – 1st Place
Crosfields School – 2nd School
Springfield Primary – 3rd Place
Special recognition was given to the overall winners of the 2026 Mini Marathon, celebrating exceptional individual performances on race day. In the boys’ category, Lorenzo Moss claimed first place, followed by Noah Mazieres in second and Wilf May in third. In the girls’ race, Aimee Porter secured an impressive first-place finish, with Alice Haldane taking second and Sienna Duncan-Brown placing third. Their achievements highlight the incredible talent and determination on display across this year’s Mini Marathon.
Judith Manson, Race Director said: “It's fantastic to see so many young people taking part and enjoying running. The Schools Challenge is a key part of the event, and the energy and enthusiasm from the children, their families and schools make it truly special. Congratulations to everyone who took part and to all of this year’s winners.”
The Schools Challenge forms an integral part of the annual event, which has been a fixture in the local sporting calendar for decades, attracting thousands of participants of all ages and abilities.
Organisers look forward to welcoming participants back next year for another celebration of youth running and community spirit.
