About 300 primary students from Lightning Ridge Central School took on the cross country challenge last Thursday as they participated in the fun run to raise money for their end of year excursions.
Reece narrowly brought home the bacon after the house team beat Bodell by one point 147-146.
The third house team Bruce wasn't too far behind ending the day with 143 points.
The school's primary sports co-ordinator and organiser of the cross country Angela Wraight said the close competition could be attributed to the high levels of participation by the primary students.
Four age groups produced winners of which the first six placegetters will proceed to the Barwon zone cross country to be held at Goodooga next Friday.
The results are: boys - eight and nine year-old, Tim Gawthorpe came first, followed by Gyle Strasek and Tom Anderson third; 10 year-old, Aiden Bedenikovic lead the way, Thomas Alchin finished runner-up and Douglas Nielson secured the third spot; 11-year-old, Rodney Raveneau came first, Justin Fraser second and Cooper Scoles third; and in the 12-year-old, Darren Pocock beat brother Ryan Pocock for first, with Gavin McKellar ending third; girls - eight and nine year-old Brook Holland won, Shannen Huckel finished runner-up and Czenzi Riesinger took third place; 10-year-old, Leonie Gawthorpe made her mark first, Sharnee Bartlett came second and Sky Holland took third place; 11-year-old, Maria Nagy was first, Simone Weatherall second and Courtney Waugh third; and for the 12 year-old, Kirsty Hughes succeeded coming first, Karley Alchin finished runner-up and Tyla Barwick third.
Ms Wraight said this year's cross country track had changed from last year because the previous course hadn't been maintained and the oval, which was last year's finishing line, was closed.
The eight, nine and 10 year-old students ran across a 2000m track while the 11 and 12- year-olds took on a 3000m trek.
She said this year's course began directly behind the school and finished on the soccer field behind the grandstand so parents could watch their children cross the finishing line.
"The course was quite challenging for students because it was a long distance they had to run, and this year's course also had more hills and some rickety bridges they had to cross."
Despite this she said all students were able to complete the course in a faster time than was expected.
"We're expecting a lot of money from the fun run sponsorship, about $1000 will go towards the end of year excursions, which is great."
The secondary students took on their cross country challenge on Friday.
The school's secondary sports co-ordinator and cross country organiser Mark Thompson said there was a good turn out of students who took part in the day.
"There were three mass starts, the 12, 13 and 14-year-old girls took off first, the next wave of runners and walkers were the 12 to 14-year-old boys, and the final wave consisted of the 15, 16 and 17 year-old boys and girls."
He said students who ran the whole course and finished age champions had qualified to proceed to Warialda for the next level.
Results: boys - 12 year-old Ricky Weatherall, 13 year-old Steven Kelly, 14 year-old Chris Bergh, 15 year-old Lawrence Walford, 16 year-old Beau McKenzie and Richard Harrison (tied), and 17 year-old Todd Lohse; girls - 12 year-old Georgie Nugent, 13 year-old Kristy Nagy, 14 year-old Raquel Brown, 15 year-old Kristina Kelly, and 16 year-old Renae Huckel.
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