TAYLOR Gooding rose to the challenge with a strong performance at the English Junior Fell Running Championships in Shropshire.

The nine-year-old Notley Green Primary School pupil, who has been competing in fell running since the age of six and is a member of Braintree and District Athletic Club, was competing as one of the younger competitors in the under-tens race in the Stretton Hills close to the Welsh Border.

The course was a demanding one, with 260 feet of climbing in its one-mile length mainly on the loose rocky outcrop of the Gaer stone, followed by an undulating ridge run before turning very steeply back for a fast descent to the finish.

Gooding showed her pedigree with a time of nine minutes 39 seconds that placed her 31st overall and as fifth girl finisher.

She is now looking forward to next year when she will be 12 months older but still in the same age category.

The youngster prepared for her Fell exploits at a weekly cross-country club at her school and earlier this year won the year four girls' category at both the Braintree cross-country finals and the North West Essex finals.

This qualified her for the Essex Cross-Country finals where she finished 18th out of 40.