English Schools Birmingham, 8-9 July 2005

English Schools Championships - Birmingham 8^th - 9^th July 2005

Five of the ten club athletes in action at the English Schools Championships returned with medals from the quality packed event held in near perfect conditions at Birmingham.

There were three individual medals - one each of the gold, silver and bronze variety - and a further two medals were gained in relays.

Katie Richardson's mature run off a slow pace brought her the Intermediate Girl's 1500m gold. A comfortable heat run on Friday had secured Katie's final place and she was always in control in Saturday's final, taking the field round early on and keeping her place on the curb when her opponents attempted to challenge. After reaching 800m in around a slow 2m 30s the pace wound up, but Katie was not be be headed and by the last 300m it was down to a straight battle between Katie, who placed 8th last year, and Stevie Stockton from Cheshire. Only in the last straight was she sure of victory and she powered home in a season's best of 4m 30.97s.

Bethan Siddons equalled her club record and PB of 1.64m in winning silver in the junior girls' high jump. Of a field of 22 only Bethan, who earlier this season won the South of England title, and Hannah Dickson from Lancashire went clear at 1.61m. Both girls were clear at the next height, 1.64m but only the Lancashire lass went over 1.67m, although Bethan went close and was delighted with her silver medal.

Lisa Schofield produced a PB when it mattered to win bronze in the inter girls' 80m hurdles. On Friday morning despite a poor start she ran strongly to finish close to her best time to place second in her heat to qualify as of right for the final on Saturday. The next morning Lisa exploded from the blocks to put herself in medal contention and put together a near perfect race to place third and win bronze, setting a superb new PB of 11.50s when it mattered.

The final two medals came when Frankie Calder and Nicola Hill helped the Essex Junior Girls' 4x100m relay team to silver. Chelmsford's Hannah Besford handed on to Frankie who passed the baton to club mate Nicola Hill who carried it round the bend to put Newham's Asha Philip, who had earlier won 100m silver, who made no mistake on the anchor leg.

Four athletes reached individual finals. Southern Champion Matt Bloy , making his debut in these championships, had to work hard in both heat & semi-final on Friday in his junior boys' 800m event and was unable to make much impact in the physical final on Saturday, finishing just outside the medals in fourth.

Last year Chloe van Wulven won the Inter girls' 80m hurdles and this year she stepped up to the Senior girls' 100m hurdles event. She was unable to gain a podium place but ran a season's best to place fourth.

Ross Clarke was another with medal hopes in the Inter Boys' 3000m but despite a strong run in the later stages he was left when the break came and had too much to do, finishing a creditable fifth.

Nicola Hill achieved her aim of making the Junior Girls' 75m Hurdles final with a fast time in qualifying but clipped a couple of hurdles in the final and lost her momentum, finishing seventh.

The final athlete Frankie Calder, who later joined Hill in relay action, equalled her PB in placing fourth in her Junior Girl's 100m heat but just missed out on a semi final place.

Former medallist Lynsey Clark was unable to celebrate her final English Schools' Championships with a medal finishing ninth in the Senior Girls' Discus.

Joe Forde had problems recording a valid throw and a single legal effort well below his recent PB left him in 11th place. (SB - Hammer 11th).