ST Albans School picked up a sensational individual hat trick at the South East Schools Cross Country Championship last weekend. Newcomer to the school Vasudev Zaver, aged 14, stormed to victory in the junior boys (Under 15s) with a time of 13.19. Tom Bro

ST Albans School picked up a sensational individual hat trick at the South East Schools Cross Country Championship last weekend.

Newcomer to the school Vasudev Zaver, aged 14, stormed to victory in the junior boys (Under 15s) with a time of 13.19. Tom Brooks came fifth in 13.43, top prospect Mark Pearce, aged 12, took sixth with 13.45 and Wilkie Hollens 12th with 14.08, Ashok Mathur 22nd with 15.02 and John Inglis 26th with 15.44. St Albans School won with 72 points ahead of Judd School on 73.

In the intermediate boys, Euan Mackenzie led the field home with a time of 20.30 to take first and lead the team to top prize. Antonio Razzano finished third with 21.49 and Calum Pontin 12th in 22.48, Alex Stride 16th in 22.57, Craig Lye 19th in 23.10 and Tom Dace 22nd in 23.28. St Albans took the win with 73 points ahead of Highgate with 75 and Judd with 88.

Dominic Easter eased to victory in the senior boys to seal the sensational hat trick for St Albans School, believed to be the first ever occasion where a school has had three winners at the event.

Dom took first place with a time of 25.25. Billy Collins finished sixth with 26.25 and Richard Priseman 16th in 27.45, Robbie Miles 17th in 27.47, Nathaniel Samson 28.45 and Geoffrey Ewen 29th in 28.55 all helped St Albans School to second team. Judd finished first with 72, with St Albans second on 94 and Winchester third with 124.

St Albans School coach George Harrison said: "I cannot recall any schools ever having three individual winners. Vasudev Zaver is a new addition to the school and young Mark Pearce is going to be good. Antonio Razzano had a great little run and Dominic Easter was a comfortable winner in the senior boys. Dom has been a fantastic school captain. He has forsaken his own opportunities outside of school to put the school team first."

The 48th Boys and 40th Girls ESAA Sainsbury's English Schools National Cross Country Championship is to take place at Sefton Park, Liverpool on Saturday.

The magnificent 200-acre Sefton Park is in the South East of Liverpool and Hertfordshire have a strong team for the event. Ronnie Spark of Oaklands College and Dominic Easter and Billy Collins lead the Senior Boys squad. Richard Priseman, Geoffrey Ewen and Robbie Miles are in reserve.

In the Junior Boys, Tom Brooks, Vasudev Zaver, James McMurray and Oliver Poulain are in the eight-strong team. Euan Mackenzie, Elliott Poulain and Antonio Razzano feature in the Intermediate Boys team.

Karis Mimms, Megan Steer and Izzy Thompson are also in action in the junior girls. Rebekah Gardiner and Lucy Yates are in the Herts senior girls team.