FREDDIE Webb produced arguably the surprise result of the day at the Wiltshire Schools’ Cross Country Championships.

The 16-year-old John of Gaunt School student ,from Hilperton, stunned school colleague and English Schools’ 800m bronze medallist Hayden Bailey to win the inter boys’ title in what was the closest finish of the eight-race programme at Grittleton House School.

“I was quite surprised to win,” admitted Webb. “My previous best result was fourth last year and this is only my second cross country win ever.”

His first was in December when Webb won the Wiltshire U17 men’s title at the University of Bath, so Saturday’s win secured a county schools and clubs double.

In the early stages, Webb was tracked by Bailey, Henry Dixon of St Augustine’s and Salisbury runner Josh Shuter but then suddenly, the race was split open.

“I was leading through the woods and assumed the others were all behind me but when I looked back, they were not there, which was a nice surprise,” added Webb. “It is the first time I have beaten Hayden, so I am really pleased.”

Bailey used his track speed to hold off Dixon to claim silver as just four seconds separated the top three finishers.

In contrast, Sheldon School’s Gemma Shepherd the least surprising win of the day.

The 18-year-old, from Yatesbury, dominated the senior girls’ race to retain her title by two minutes 25 seconds from fellow Sheldon runner Elen Lindsay, with Africa Wyles Saracibar of Dauntsey’s a close third.

Since making her debut as a junior girl in 2011, she has now accumulated four golds from five starts, with a silver in 2014 when beaten by Malmesbury’s Zoe Wassell in the inter girls’ race.

“That was my last Wiltshire Schools’ Championships, so it was quite sad really,” said Shepherd.

“I seem to have been running them for a long time, so it was nice to go out on a high.”

Shepherd didn’t push herself too hard as she was also racing the next day, finishing a fine seventh in the under 20 women’s race at the British Cross Challenge fixture in Cardiff.

In the inter girls’ race, 16-year-old John of Gaunt student Caitlin Wosika won her second gold and fifth county medal in succession with a convincing victory over Caroline Brenchley of St Mary’s Calne and Hardenhuish School’s Katie Strange.

Wosika last won the county title as a junior two years ago but since making her debut as a minor girl in 2012, she can now boast two golds, two silvers a bronze.

St Augustine’s Catholic College's Rory Howorth looks like being one of the county’s best hopes at the South West Schools’ Championships in Cheltenham a week on Saturday (February 6).

The 13-year-old, from Hilperton, comfortably retained his junior boys’ title from the Bishop Wordsworth’s pair of Daniel Poynting and Robert Croager.

“Grittleton is a good course for me as I know where I can work the hills and stride out and I felt pretty easy,” said Howorth. "Now for the South West and then the English Schools’ – that is the big target for me this winter.”

Abigail Burn, of South Wilts Girls Grammar, was crowned junior girls’ champion, with Sophie Smith, of St John’s School, Marlborough, runner-up and Hardenhuish’s India Ibbotson third.

There was a Salisbury clean sweep of the medals in the minor girls’ race, with Warminster’s Anna Payne fourth while the minor boys’ title went to Robert Jones, of Bishop Wordsworth.

COUNTY CHAMPIONS: Will Stockley (Melksham Oak) – senior boys; Freddie Webb (The John of Gaunt) – inter boys; Rory Howorth (St Augustine’s) – junior boys; Robert Jones (Bishop Wordsworth) – minor boys; Gemma Shepherd (Sheldon) – senior girls; Caitlin Wosika (The John of Gaunt) – inter girls; Abigail Burn (South Wilts Girls Grammar) – junior girls; Olivia Roderick (St Edmund’s Girls) – minor girls.