Excellent Results At

English Schools 2005 - Birmingham

MORE PHOTOS CONTAINED IN THE REPORT BELOW

A superb two days of athletics at the 75th English Schools Championships held at Birmingham (8th/9th July) where all six athletes from Vale Royal AC who were part of the Cheshire Schools Team reached finals and gained medals as well.

The Cheshire Schools Team number was 11 (Eleven) and the team colours were Red Shorts/knicker shorts and a black vest, where the team manager was Sandra Littler.  Sandra can be seen with the trophy that the Cheshire Schools Inter Girls Team won, for the most points awarded to the girls in that age group for the whole of England.

This is the biggest athletics event on the calendar which started with the Mid/South/North/East Cheshire Schools competitions which then progressed to the Cheshire Schools Championships held annually.  The best of the Cheshire Schools Team progress to the English Schools Finals provided the standards are met.  David Moorcroft who is a former World Record Holder argued that the English Schools were the mini Olympics of his school days. 

Many top athletes including Seb Coe, Steve Ovett, David Hemery, Steve Cram, Daley Thomson, Tessa Sanderson, Fatima Whitbread, Colin Jackson, Denise Lewis, Jonathan Edwards, Linford Christie, Paula Radcliffe, Fiona May, Kelly Holmes, Steve Backley, Mark Lewis Francis, Darren Campbell, Ashia Hansen, Jade Johnson, Kelly Sotherton and many, many others are athletes who have all competed at the English Schools championships since it began.

From start to finish there will have been something in the region of 100,000 school children who started the process at local schools competitions which are then whittled down to the final 1,600 athletes that attended the championships via County Schools Championships and inter county championships before the English Schools Championships each year.

Six members of Vale Royal AC were in action as part of the Cheshire Schools team where 48 county schools associations participated in the games.

Hayley Jones (Inter Girls - Years 10/11) of Vale Royal AC won her very first English Schools Title with a convincing win in the 300 metres with a new personal best of 38.43 seconds, which was then followed by a another gold medal for the Inter Girls 4 x 100 metres relay team. This meant Hayley was fourth on the all time list for the 300 metres and will now be in Ireland next week to represent England Schools.

Hayley brought the baton home to anchor to the applause of the supporters of the athletes where fellow club member Morgan Brown ran an excellent 2nd leg down the back straight to wear her gold relay medal with pride, and first place for the Cheshire Team in the Inter Girls 4 x 100 m relay team.

Stevie Stockton (Inter Girls - Years 10/11) gained a silver medal in the 1500 metres with a new personal best of 4.31 minutes to knock off five seconds off her old personal best.  Stevie was well and truly jigged after the race and was delighted to pick her first English Schools medal, but was elated at the prospect of running in an England Schools Vest  next weekend in Ireland.

Morgan Brown (Inter Girls - Years 10/11) contested heats and semi finals to reach the final of the 100 metres where a time of 12.47 seconds and 7th place at the English Schools is very pleasing indeed.  Morgan left Alexander Stadium with a beaming smile on her face having gained a gold medal in the 4 x 100 metres relay to cap off an excellent weekend for Vale Royal AC athletes.

Field eventer Hanna Hewitson jumped to 5th place in the Inter girls (years 10/11) triple jump with a jump of 11.50 metres in a high quality final where the national record was broken twice which showed the quality of the field. 

Secondly, for the first time in over five years there had to be heats as there were 35 entries that had reached the English schools standard.   This meant  there had to be heats and then a final the next day, which is very unusual.   However the future for the sport of triple jumping is looking extremely promising. Hanna thoroughly enjoyed the experience of the games which has given her great experience and confidence for next year in the same age group.

Laura Lambert (Inter Girls - Years 10/11) contested a heat, semi final and a final over two days in sweltering heat to claim an excellent sixth place in the 800 metres with a new personal best time of 2.12 minutes.  Laura fully enjoyed the competition and this boosted her confidence to gain sixth place in a major championships final and to be presented with a certificate by Ashia Hansen (Double World Indoor Triple Jump Champion/World Indoor Record Holder) was also a highlight of the weekend.

Becky Ellis (Senior Girls - Years 12/13) competed in her very last English Schools before the migration to university, to come 6th in the 3000 metres with a time of 9.58 minutes in sweltering and lost fourth place by 100th of a second in a sprint to the line.   Becky was pleased with sixth place and had the honour of leading the Cheshire Team in the parade to mark the 75th anniversary of the games. 

James Griffiths (Inter Boys - Years 10/11) contested a heat, semi final and final in the 800 metres to gain 5th place in the final with a time of 1.58 minutes.  James was very pleased with his time and learnt a lot about the progression from heats, semi final and then the final itself.  James will now be taking it easy before the British Championships in a couple of weeks.

Club President Harry congratulated all the six athletes from Vale Royal AC who participated in the English Schools and represented the County of Cheshire Schools Team and commented that it was nice that all the athletes reached the finals of each event.  Harry Evans also thanked all the parents and coaches who travelled down for the weekend and supported the athletes.