C
an seasons get any better
than 2010? Could the
season be extended for the
next few years as an extralong
2010? Marvellous
competitions featured a series
of fantastic individual performances, which led
to so many personal bests across the board,
from juniors to seniors, boys and girls, with the
very best representing Somerset at English
Schools track and field and multi-events
championships - eight to be precise.
The four at the July nationals represented the
second largest contingent from any school in
England, but then Charlie Maclean and Robin
Danaher went one better - they won. Charlie
won in a thrilling last lap finish in the 2000m
steeplechase, slashing his personal best by
nine seconds, which led to him being invited to
run at the London Diamond League Grand Prix.
Robin responded in kind in the intermediate
boys' javelin, then won the British Schools
when representing England, followed by taking
the AAA title, and he finished a clean sweep
with the UK Games title - oh, and increased a
very good school record by about seven metres.
Along the way, many of our athletes improved
their technique courtesy of the fine coaching
delivered by the well-honed team of Messrs
Cole, Shaw, Hall, with Mrs Berry and
Mrs Singleton. There were fine performances
in a whole range of competitions, many of
which were staged with the help of the
indefatigable Messrs Lee and Round.
The highlights of the term for the school teams
included a win for the senior boys at Blundell's,
in a competition of five schools, with the senior
girls coming second on the day. There were
similar results for the junior girls at Taunton
School, the junior relays at Queen's, and some
incredible results for the senior boys and senior
girls at Millfield - second and third respectively
out of 11 and eight teams. Such team results
are a fine testament to the contributions of the
many athletes supporting the more well-known
names, who cannot win matches by their own
efforts alone.
Fifteen of our athletes represented Somerset at
various events, with Hayden Tyler, Constantin
Kossen, Blaine Tottle, Charlie Granville and
Alice Davies all being selected for national
championship events. The other county
representatives at South West level included
Mhairi Hall, Tom Lawson, Katy Preece, Hilary
Moorhead, Issy Germain, Jordan Webb, Pippa
O'Neill and Penny Guess. Penny also
drastically altered various school 800 metres
records, gaining the trophy for the outstanding
performance by a girl on Sports Day - when
seven other Sports Day records fell. At the end
of the event, a mere half point settled the final
positions in the boys' house competition,
Tuckwell prevailing over King Alfred, with
Woodard only one point further adrift. Meynell
held sway over Carpenter by a similarly tight
margin in the girls' competition, bearing out
the format of the competition, and six of the
houses picked up age-group trophies.
With every match there were heroes and
heroines, some winners, others obtaining good
performances and valuable points. In the
Blundell's meeting, there were wins for Hayden
Tyler, Charlie Granville, Charlie Maclean, Hilary
Moorhead, Alex Raleigh (high and triple jump -
in his last events before long-term injury
resurfaced) and Mhairi Hall.
At the big Millfield meeting, others contributed
mightily, with wins including Lloyd Griffiths
(promoted to the senior boys' high jump), Kate
Webster, Sophia Collins and Issy Germain, in a
Aluredian
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