A talented Team GB athlete returned to Bradford Grammar School (BGS) to run a special training session for the next generation of cross-country champions.
Emile Cairess, 21, was back at BGS fresh from competing with Team GB U23s in the European Cross County Championships, in Tilburg, Holland. The athlete had picked up a team silver medal and recovered well from a fall near the start of his race to move up 59 places and finish in 8th position.
He said: “It was amazing to compete for Britain for the first time. It has always been my goal. This year I’ve trained harder and its been really rewarding that it’s all paid off.”
Emile, who left BGS in 2016 to take up a place at St Mary’s College, London, to study sport science, recalled: “I got my first taste of competing at the Junior School when Mr Reddish entered me in a race. I came second and got the taste for it from then.
“It’s been fantastic to come back to the school. BGS was very good in giving me a bursary and the teachers were always very understanding if I had competitions and needed to leave early. The school invested in me and I’m delighted to help them in any way I can.”
Emile, of Saltaire, was introduced to running by his mum, Alison, aged around four. He competed for the school and with the Bingley Harriers before joining Leeds City. He is the reigning England U23 5000m champion and is now looking ahead to the European Championships next summer.
BGS, which also counts Olympic medallists Alistair and Jonny Brownlee, among its prestigious alumni, is undergoing a £4m investment in its sports facilities. It has also brought in several new sports names as part of the redevelopment, with a wealth of experience, from ex professionals and internationals to national league and age group international athletes who have represented Team GB.
Mike McCartney, Lead Teacher for Cross Country at BGS, said: “We’ve watched Emile grow as a runner from a young age to where he is now, a very good athlete. He’s always had the talent and when he was competing as a schoolboy he was beating people, even though they were doing double the amount of training that he was. We could see that he was going to go places then and we’re very proud of him.
“There’s a really lovely team spirit among the runners at BGS. They’re such nice kids and they all really get on together and support each other.”
“We’ve watched Emile grow as a runner from a young age to where he is now, a very good athlete. He’s always had the talent and when he was competing as a schoolboy he was beating people, even though they were doing double the amount of training that he was. We could see that he was going to go places then and we’re very proud of him.
There’s a really lovely team spirit among the runners at BGS. They’re such nice kids and they all really get on together and support each other.”
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