Halfway through a long gruelling cross-country run, Pamela Knocker realised she had been entered in the wrong race - but still went on to win.

Pamela, 15, a pupil at the Stanway School, in Stanway, Colchester, was entered in the senior race at the North Essex Cross Country Championships, staged at Essex University this week.

The talented long-distance runner, who should have been in the year ten and 11 girls' race, said: "About two miles into the race, my teacher shouted to me that I was in the wrong event.

"This made winning even better - it was excellent."

At last year's event, Pamela, of Bull Lane, Tiptree, came 7th in her age-group race, but this week she managed to hold-off the challenge of a field of some 300 sixth-formers and seniors.

"The judges were quite shocked," she said.

"It is a long hard race, with a fast pace."

Other senior competitors were quick to congratulate Pamela on her brilliant achievement and many shook her hand.

Jenny Morgan, press officer at The Stanway School, said everyone was very proud of Pamela.

"It is a brilliant achievement," she said.

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