Mari Smith and Hannah Nuttall put aside club rivalry to lead Leicestershire & Rutland under-13 girls to a bronze medal in the age-group races at the Inter-Counties Cross-Country Championships at Birmingham.

Smith, of Leicester Coritanian, and Charnwood's Nuttall have gone head to head from rival camps but put on a united front to give the county a massive lift.

County girls team manager Paul Blissett said: "Coritanian and Charnwood are often in separate tents at events and I'm trying to encourage a bit more togetherness.

"That was certainly the case at the Inter-Counties as Hannah was a bit nervous and asked if she could warm up with Mari. It was great to see."

Midlands champion Nuttall was first home for Leicestershire in 20th spot in a time of 11min 41sec, with Smith just a couple of places further down the field in 11.46.

Leicestershire's impressive packing ensured them third spot with Hannah Cox 29th in 11.50 and Emily Hollis coming home in 36th with a time of 11.55.

At under-15s level, Amy Griffiths produced a terrific performance to finish eighth in a time of 15.40.

Griffiths, the reigning Leicester Mercury Young Sportswoman of the Year, led home the team, who finished 24th in the overall placings.

The under-20 women were 12th, their best performance in the past four years.

County and Midlands champion James Hatton dropped a further hint of his rich promise by finishing 10th in the under-13 boys race, and at under-20 mens' level, Sam Stabler posted an exceptional 11th place. Round-up of the results:

U13 girls 3k: 1 Katie Rowe (Hants) 11.19, 2 Grace Cook (Georgia Tuckfield (Essex) 11.20, 3 Grace Cook (Sussex) 11.26. County: 20 Hannah Nuttall 11.41, 22 Mari Smith 11.43, 29 Hannah Cox 11.50, 36 Emily Hollis 11.55, 59 Helena Keenan 12.03, 65 Georgia Bevins 12.06, 66 Lucy Palmer 12.06, 152 Georgia Gartside 12.40. Team: 1 Essex 72, 2 North East 101, 3 Leicestershire 107.

U15 girls 4k: 1 Jessica Judd (Essex) 14.52, 2 Rebecca Knapton (Hants) 15.11, 3 Susan Shiel-Rankin (Surrey) 15.14. County: 8 Amy Griffiths 15.40, 74 Megan Fairbrother 16.49, 155 Lizzie Golland 17.31, 179 Livvy Tansey 17.43, 227 Jasmine Southam 18.12, 245 Kim Jalland 18.25, 256 Chloe Tillin 18.41.

U17 women 5k: 1 Kate Holt (Staffs) 19.00, 2 Emily Wallbank (Beds) 19.01, 3 Mel Wood (Bucks) 19.20. County: 61 Lucy Crookes 20.54, 111 Freya Vincent 21.39, 156 Katya Blackledge 22.15, 169 Helena Smith 22.27, 198 Emily Taylor 22.58. 205 Sarah Ward 23.14, Team: 1 Bucks 98, 2 Surrey 102, 3 Hants 106, 25 Leicestershire.

U20 women 6k: 1 Emelia Gorecka (Surrey) 20.40, 2 Annabel Gummow (Cornwall) 20.53. 3 Hannah Walker (Herts) 21.00. County: 40 Lucy Hall 23.40, 75 Louisa Monk 25.25, 82 Amy Danaher 25.47, 88 Emma Brown 26.04, 105 Jenny Smith 27.02. Team: 1 Surrey 40, 2 Lancs 87, 3 Avon & Somerset 140, 12 Leicestershire 285.

U13 boys 3k: 1 Tom Holden (Surrey) 10.22, 2 Christian Von Eitzen (Oxfordshire) 10.23, 3 Merhawi Tesfaloet (Surrey) 10.24. County: 10 James Hatton 10.40, 20 Ollie Spencer 10.50, 42 Euan Makepeace 11.05, 74 Sam Elliott 11.14, 147 Ben Craig 11.40, 185 George Bell 11.52, 195 Greg Jones 11.56, 215 Luke Beeby 12.07. Team: 1 Surrey 29, 2 Hants 45, 3 Yorkshire 118, 5 Leicestershire 146.

U15 Boys 4.5k: 1 James McMurray (Herts) 14.55, 2 Finlay Rae (Scotland West) 14.56, 3 Michael McKeown (Warks) 15.03. County: 27 Xander Tansey 15.41, 54 Stefan Ashman 15.53, 127 Jonathan Monk 16.25, 171 James Nutt 16.44, 188 Josh McTighe 16.51, 217 Jack Williams 17.04, 238 Matt Kirby 17.16. Team: 1 Kent 101, 2 Scotland West 119, 3 Yorks 126, 23 Leics 379.

U17 mens 6k: 1 Ross Matheson (Scotland East) 18.33, 2 Ian Bailey (Surrey) 18.43, 3 Ben Connor (Derbys) 18.45. County: 139 Will Bourne 21.02, 144 Loz Robinson 21.06, 170 Jake Kench 21.24, 184 Niall McSharry 21.33, 229 Jamie Short 22.19, 253 Jake Watson 23.41. Team: 1 Surrey 49, 2 Yorks 94, 3 Warks 126, 34 Leics 563.

U20 Mens 8k: 1 Richard Goodman (Middlesex) 25.04, 2 Ben Norris (Notts) 25.06, 3 Calum Hawkins (Scotland West) 25.26. County: 11 Sam Stabler 26.12, 36 Lewis Smart 27.12, 93 Sam Densham 28.34, 95 Liam Phelan 28.40, 109 Paddy Radley 28.56. Team: 1 Surrey 49, 2 Yorks 94, 3 Warks 126, 12 Leics 235.