TWO elite cross-country runners who have represented their country across the world are celebrating another victory today – achieving all grade 9s (A*s) in their GCSE results.
Rebecca Flaherty and Amelie Lane, both Bradford Grammar School (BGS) pupils, have represented England and won medals, including golds, this year.
Their races have included the U18 Mountain Running Cup in Italy last month, where Rebecca won a silver medal and Amelie came 7th, which clinched the gold medal for England, and a gold medal representing BGS in the ISF World Schools Cross Country Championships, in Slovakia.
Rebecca also won gold for England in the inter boys and inter girls 4X1500m relay in the Home Countries’ International race in Wales in March. Meanwhile Amelie ran for Great Britain – and became the first BGS female runner to don a GB vest – in the European Off-Road Running Championship in La Palma last month, where she came 10th, and won the ESAA Fell Race Championships in 2021.
Today, the 16-year-olds were celebrating a different kind of success – academic excellence after they each swept the board with all grade 9s.
Amelie, of Ilkley, who secured 10 GCSEs said: “I’ve had to be strict balancing running and revising but it’s paid off and I’m really happy. It’s a similar feeling to competing and winning medals and I was nervous picking up the results, but I’m used to being nervous before a race.” Amelie will now study Biology, Chemistry, Geography and Psychology.
Rebecca, of Menston, Bradford, was delighted with her 11 GCSEs. She said: “I’ve put in a lot of nights balancing the running and schoolwork. It’s just as special as winning a medal in a way – it means a lot.” Rebecca will go on to take A Levels in Maths, Chemistry, Biology and History at BGS.
Rebecca is following in the footsteps of brother Alex, 18, who has also run for England and last week secured a fantastic four A*s in his A Levels.
BGS has several notable sporting alumni including Olympic triathletes Jonny and Alistair Brownlee and Olympic track and field athlete Richard Nerurkar.
Dr Simon Hinchliffe, headmaster at BGS, said: “The girls have enjoyed outstanding success in their races this year, with Rebecca being the first female student in BGS history to wear an England vest, closely followed by her teammate Amelie being the first female runner to sport a Team GB vest. We’re equally proud of them both and delighted that they’ve achieved such fantastic results.”
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