BRIDGET Dence starred for Dorset in the South-West Schools’ Cross-Country Championships at Exeter Arena.

Though only in her junior year, the Bournemouth School for Girls pupil came within two seconds of adding the junior girls’ title to the South-West Inter-Counties gold she won at Bicton College last month.

Defeated only by the older and more experienced Devon Schools’ champion Victoria Weir, Dence also led Dorset to second team behind the hosts.

Fourth-placed Isabel Glaisher led Dorset’s intermediate girls to team silver.

• Full results in our Youth Sport supplement.