Shropshire’s Isabel Bradley had the race of her life as she finished a brilliant eighth in the English Schools Junior Girls Cross-Country Championships at Wollaton Park in Nottingham.

And the result is the pupil at Wellington’s Charlton School won selection for the England Schools team to run in the Home International Schools meeting in Northern Ireland on Saturday.

She becomes the first Shropshire cross-country runner to represent England Schools since Georgina Grandfield was selected after her ninth placed finish at Maidstone in 2004.

Isabel’s eighth place is the highest Shropshire girl finish since Alison Lavender was a famous fifth in the junior girls race at Brighton in 2003, and also went onto represent England Schools.

Lee Hughes and Will Levett, have the best Shropshire records as they won the junior and senior boys races respectively in 1994 and 1995.

After a steady start Isabel moved through the field and was in the mid-20s at the end of the first small lap.

Then on the larger second lap she started to really move on the fast and firm 3.5 kilometre course.

She moved into the top 10 and then with a strong finish moved through into eighth to be greeted as she crossed the line by jubilant Shropshire supporters.

The race was won by Bronwen Owen from North Yorkshire by 10secs in 12mins 28secs, but the rest of the leading finishers were so close that Isabel was only five seconds away from third place.

The next junior girl to finish was Wrekin College runner Danni Rowlinson who, finished an amazing 85th — and she has another year in this age group next year.

Holly Barnett, another Charlton School student, was the next home in 190th while Passey Goddard from Shrewsbury Girls High was 256th just ahead of Ludlow’s Chloe Evans in 261st.

Other finishers were Maddie Wong, Thomas Telford 314th, Molly Brown, BRJ 332nd and Jodie Beddow, Bedstone College 343rd as Shropshire’s team were 35th out of the 44 counties taking part.

By PAUL SANDERSON