ATHLETES from Weymouth impressed for Dorset at the South West Cross Country Championships.

Dorset under-13 boys’ champion Ryan Purse, had to work hard against the best boys in the South West on the hilly and challenging course at Bicton College, Devon.

He was the first Dorset boy to cross the line in 16th place overall.

Aiden Turner, inset, still has another year in the under-17 men’s age group, but the 15-year-old worked hard and showed a lot of determination to finish 38th in a quality field.

In the under-20 men’s race, Ben Westhenry, who won the Boxing Day Poole Park 10k race by more than a minute and a half, continued to show his good form, taking silver in the race and was sixth place overall in the mixed senior men/under-20 men’s event. He was the first Dorset athlete to finish.

The second county athlete to the finish line was Portland triathlete Chris Perham who was fifth in the under-20s and 11th overall. Weymouth’s James Sewery, now at Oxford University and part their cross country group, impressed as he came home seventh in the under-20s and was the 28th senior man home out of 121 athletes who completed the 9k race.

Other top Dorset performers were Dorchester’s Maddie Johnson, who bagged second in the under-13 girls’ race.

Older sister Flora was 11th in the under-17s with older brother Fergus taking 15th in the under-20s men’s division.

Both Flora and Fergus are in the youngest year of their age groups.

The other Dorset medal winners were Wimborne’s Tho-mas Bourne, who finished second in the under-15 boys’ race.

Last year’s under-13 girls’ winner, Grace Copeland of Wimborne also took third in the under-15 girls’ category.