English Schools Gateshead, 9-10 July 2004

English Schools Championships - Gateshead Stadium, 9^th - 10^th July 2004

Havering Mayesbrook's eight young athletes in the Essex Schools squad returned home with three medals from a damp and cold 74th English Schools Championships held at Gateshead International Stadium on Friday and Saturday.

Pride of place went to Chloe van Wulven who won 80m hurdles gold in a season's best of 11.39s, a whisker away from her PB of 11.36s set in much better conditions at last year's competition, in which she finished second. She emerged from the heats on Friday as fastest qualifier as hot favourite and defending champion, Kylie Robilliard, competing with a heavily strapped ankle fell in her heat. But Chloe still had it all to do in Saturday's final. The challenge of last year's fourth placer Zara Hohn faded at the first hurdle which she hit heavily and from then on it was a two-horse race between Chloe and Merseyside's Vicky Garrad. The Merseyside girl seemed to have the edge from mid-race but Chloe landed better off the last hurdle to hold on for a narrow win in by 2-100ths. The duo now go on to lock horns again in the England colours when they compete in the Home Countries Schools International at Chelmsford on Saturday.

Mel Harrison and Bonne Buwembo also added bronze medals in the throws on Friday. Bonne's good form continued and he showed no sign of nerves in his first national competition to launch the javelin 49.41m - his third best ever throw - to win bronze in the junior boys event.

In contrast the vastly experienced Mel Harrison celebrated her final appearance at these championships with another bronze in 40.26m in the senior discus to add to her bronze medals in the Inter Girls in 2002 and junior girls in 2000. She held second at the half-way stage but was pushed back into third by Merseyside's Gemma Llewellyn in the fourth and although her last round throw spun out to over 40m it was not enough to regain runners-up spot. Lynsey Clark, who finished second in last year's Inter Girls event with her 40.90m PB, finished seventh in 37.17m.

Megan Foley and Katie Richardson mixed it in a top quality Inter Girls' 1500m which came down to a last lap burn up. Danielle Walker of Staffordshire led at the bell with Megan and Katie well placed in the leading group before Danielle Christmas from Surrey unleashed a stunning last lap of around 62secs to come home a convincing winner ahead of Walker. Megan responded well and improved her 1500m PB to 4m 30.24s but could finish to higher than sixth, with Katie Richardson - who has another shot in this age group next year - two places back.

Sara Luck was competitive early on the the senior girls 800m, going through the bell in around 64s in the leading group but as eventual winner Hayley Beard kicked clear Sarah faded to sixth.

The final HMAC competitor at Gateshead was Frankie Calder's whose ESAA debut ended in the heats of the junior girls' 100m, although running close to her PB. But she has another year in the age group and will have learned from her first experience on the national stage.

Lucy Sargent - hotly tipped for gold in the Inter girls 200m - decided not to travel north ahead of her World Junior Championships appearance on Wednesday. In her absence her fierce rival Joey Duck ran a PB of 23.80s - faster than Lucy's best.

Junior Girls:

100m 5h3 Frankie Calder - 12.74w

Inter Girls:

1500m 6th Megan Foley - 4m 30.24s (PB); 8th Katie Richardson - 4m 35.32s

(Heats: 4h1 Megan - 4m 38.21s ; 2h2 Katie - 4m 42.13s)

80m Hurdles 1st Chloe van Wulven - 11.39s (Heat: 1h1 11.50w)

Senior Girls

800m 6th Sara Luck - 2m 13.83s

Discus 3rd Melanie Harrison - 40.26m; 7th Lynsey Clark - 37.17m

Junior Boy:

Javelin 3rd Bonne Buwembo - 49.41m