T
The King's
athletics team
had a very
busy season
with the
younger
pupils leading the way with
distinction from the very first
match all the way to the
English Schools Championships
in Gateshead.
At the match organised by
Blundell's at the Castle School
track, there were wins for
Olivia Taylor, Hattie Johnstone
and Issy Germain, as the junior
girls came a very close second
to the hosts, there were two
wins for Alex Raleigh, whilst
Harry Hudson, Robin Danaher
and Charlie MacLean all
opened their seasons with
wins.
Harry followed his with fourth
place in the Somerset
Pentathlon event and used this
as a springboard to lead the
county team home in the South
West Championships and to qualify for the
National Championships, before being forced
out by illness.
Hilary Moorhead and Issy Germain had fought
out an epic duel in the junior girls' event at the
County Pentathlon, eventually coming first and
second respectively, separated by less than a
second on the track. Both girls showed true
grit by each recording many personal bests,
including a fantastic run in the 800 metres.
At the Taunton Area Schools staged at King's,
the most notable girls' results were wins
recorded by Lucy Chapman (200m), Mhairi
Hall (800m), Rebecca Doyle (discus) and
Hattie Johnstone (hurdles). Jack Lawson
(400m), Lee Paisley (high jump), but
particularly Alex Raleigh (a full sweep of all
three jumps) flew the standard with wins which
led to a large group of pupils going forward to
the county schools event, at which the Taunton
Area team won all 12 of the available trophies.
At the county championships there were wins
for Hilary Moorhead (200m and long jump),
Charlie MacLean (pole vault), Robin Danaher
(javelin), Alex Raleigh (high and triple jump)
and Hayden Tyler (shot), the latter making his
first appearance in local athletics. These
athletes were joined by Issy Germain (long
jump), Lloyd Griffiths (high jump) and Harry
Hudson (800m) at the South West event in
Exeter, with big wins going to the multi-skilled
MacLean (steeplechase), Danaher (against
three of his top rivals in Britain) and Tyler (in a
colossal national standard).
At the English Schools Robin Danaher
continued to stamp his authority on the national
scene with a fine win in poor conditions.
Charlie MacLean took silver in the steeplechase
which qualified him for the England team,
taking bronze in both the Schools International
and the UK School Games. Check ?
Away from the championships, other athletes
supported the more well-known performers,
including Dom Bracher (victory in the high
jump at the Millfield junior match), supported
by Jordan Webb (triple jump) and George
Chapman (high jump).
On Sports Day, Woodard recorded victories in
the competitions for 3rd form, 4th form and
62, and also secured victor ludorum trophies
through Harry Hudson and Dom Bracher.
Other trophies were picked up by Tuckwell
(including the relay cup) and Bishop Fox.
Deserved cup wins went to Ed Dawson, Matt
Peek and Charlie MacLean, whilst Carpenter
and Hilary Moorhead picked up the junior girls
cups, but Meynell, Tori Canning and Alice
Davies won the other girl categories.
My thanks as ever to the dedicated coaches,
Mr Cole, Mrs Wrobel, Mrs Berry, Mr Shaw, Mrs
Singleton and Mr Hall, and to the match day
officials Messrs Lee and Round.
Aluredian
90
Hilary Moorhead wins the
county championships 200m
Athletics
By Richard
Llewellyn-Eaton