SOMERSET teenager Liam Biddlecombe set two South West Schools' Championships records with a powerful display of throwing at Yeovil.
The 14-year-old Holyrood School student from Chard was in a class of his own in the junior boys' discus as he bettered his own championships best, set last year, with a winning throw of 47.18m. He also added the shot title with a record-breaking putt of 15.44m.
"I would have liked to have thrown a bit further but I have to be pleased with that," said Biddlecombe, who is a member of the Yeovil Olympiades club.
Another Somerset athlete in sparkling form was Katie Wickman. The Millfield School student won the inter girls' discus with a throw of 42.05m, a championship record. Devonian Wickman, who is coached by Ken Holmes at Bath University and is a previous medallist at the English Schools, already has her sights set on an even bigger stage.
"I am hoping to go to the European Youth Olympics and believe I can win a medal there," said Wickman.
Another record to fall came in the inter girls' pole vault with Trowbridge teenager Sophie Upton clearing a personal best of 3.80m.
It was one of four championship records set in the event - Douglas Curwen-Reed (senior boys), Tony Hillier (inter boys) and Tom Gibson (junior boys) the others - and all from athletes who use the UK Athletics High Performance Centre facilities at Bath University where they receive expert guidance from coaches Tim Snowdon, Christian North and Charles Preston.
Dorset's Melissa Courtney, still only 13, ran a superb time of 4mins 33.8secs to win the junior girls' 1500m, a time quicker than the inter and senior winners. Courtney, currently the UK's No 1 in the age group, set a fierce pace from the gun and while Gloucestershire's Amber Watson never gave up the chase - and was rewarded with a big personal best - Courtney never looked in any danger.
"I was pleased with that run as it was quite breezy out there," said Courtney.
Avon's Richard Peters, silver medallist in the inter boys' 1500m last year, ran a sound tactical race to out-kick Devon's Patrick Hambly to win the senior title while Emma Reed, younger sister of British international Kate, led from gun to tape to set a new PB in the senior 800.
Devon's Michael Cole also dominated the senior boys' 800m, leading from gun to tape and deliver anther win for coach Mark Brace, who also saw fine wins for Phil Norman (senior 2000m steeplechase) and Davey Platt (inters 800m) to underline the good work he is doing on the north coast.
"It was a very comfortable win for Phil and the only disappointment was that he just missed the championship record by just over a second," said Brace. "If he had known he was that close he'd have really gone for it on the last lap."
Millfield School's Kitty Eleyae, a member of Woodford Green With Essex Ladies, looked very impressive in winning the inter girls' 100m while Trowbridge newcomer Daniel Talbot, who recently won the South of England title and clocked a super PB of 21.8secs at the Wiltshire title, powered to victory in the inter boys' 200m.
Lorraine Shaw's hammer throwing squad from Gloucestershire enjoyed a good day picking up several medals, the pick of which were golds for the senior pair of Nikita Morgan and Alex Warner.
Cornwall's top performer was Lee Hamilton. The 16-year-old Wadebridge school student won both the inter boys' 100m hurdles and 400m hurdles events, looking the class act in both races. Of the two the latter was the most exciting as in a thrilling final 50 metres it initially seemed as if Hamilton had been caught on the line by Devon rival James Berry.
"I must admit I thought James had it," said Hamilton. But the photo finish equipment confirmed otherwise and Hamilton, who is a genuine medal contender for the national championships in Birmingham next month, was given the gold.
Devon's 17-year-old Sophie Skinner impressed with victories in both the senor girls' 100m hurdles and long jump while Cornwall's Alice Robins was thrilled to win her first ever South West titles with a sprint double.
"I first competed in the South West Schools' as a 14-year-old and it has taken until I am 18 and in my last year at school to win my first title and I'm absolutely delighted," said Robins.
A fine meeting was well organised by Brian Baker and his team and the high standard of competition was reflected in a record number of national standards.
89 national entry standards and 39 national standards were achieved at this event.
Overall Teams:
1 Somerset 532
2 Devon 472
3 Dorset 408
4 Avon 377
5 Gloucestershire 292
6 Wiltshire 287
7 Cornwall 29
(Winners only)
Junior girls - 100/200: 1 Jennie Batten (G) 12.78/25.98; 800: Esther Harrill (A) 2:21.4; 1500: Melissa Courtney (Do) 4;33.8 (CBP); 75H: Holly Chapman (D)12.00; LJ: 1 A Sandford (Do) 5.41; JT/SP: 1 Charlotte Kanini-Parsons (S) 32.01/9.89; HJ: 1 Alex Macleod (S) 1.58; DT: 1 Sidi Duke (S) 27.95.
Inter girls - 100: 1 Kitty Eleyae (S) 12.18; 200: 1 Emily Diamond (A) 25.78; 300: 1 Georgina Allbrook (W) 41.64; 800: 1 Debbie Cocking (Do) 2:15.99; 1500: 1 Catherine Blew (S) 4:43.48;
80H: 1 Amy Wakeham (D) 11.74; 300H: 1 Garnet Mackinder (D) 45.97; 3000: 1 Rachel Heard (S) 11:24.7; LJ: 1 D Ryan (Do) 5.15; JT: 1 Jemma Tewkesbury (Do) 38.92; HJ: 1 Heather Cumming (W) 1.65; DT: 1 Katie Wickman (S) 42.05 (CBP); TJ: 1 Lauren Priest (D) 11.56; SP: 1 Sophie Lyne-Ley (D) 9.35; HT: 1 Beth Jones (A) 35.54; PV: 1 Sophie Upton (W) 3.80 (CBP); 2 Yasmin Dyer (W) 3.30.
Senior girls - 100/200: 1 Alice Robins (C ) 12.66/26.40; 400: 1 Francesa Keeble (G) 57.15; 800: 1 Emma Reed (A) 2:12.24; 1500: 1 Laura Parker (S) 4:40.29; 100H/LJ: 1 Sophie Skinner (D) 15.07/5.63; 400H: 1 Rebecca Courtenay (G) 68.75; 3000: 1 Yasmin Smith (W) 10:14.0; JT/SP: 1 Sophie Thomas (S) 38.70/11.33; HJ: 1 Hatty Scaramanga (S) 1.72; DT: 1 L Carr (Do) 31.14; TJ: 1 Warsop 11.04; HT: 1 Nikita Morgan (G) 39.27; PV: 1 M Seager (Do) 3.30 (CBP).
Junior boys - 100: 1 Spencer James (D) 11.7; 200: 1 Joe Hutchingson (W) 23.66; 400: 1 M Dear (Do) 54.00; 800: 1 Luke Carroll (G) 2:06.60; 1500: 1 Tom Purnell (G) 4:24.29; 80H: 1 Adam McBraida (A) 11.91; LJ: 1 Seb Bomani (W) 5.81; JT: 1 Steven Turnock (D) 47.35; HJ: 1 A Cox (Do) 1.81; DT/SP: 1 Liam Biddlecombe (S) 47.18 (CBP)/15.44 (CBP); TJ: 1 James Lelliott (S) 12.46; HT: 1 Andrew Elkins (Do) 52.50 (CBP); PV: 1 Tom Gibson (W) 3.80 (CBP).
Inter boys - 100: 1 George Robinson (D) 11.4; 200: 1 Daniel Talbot (W) 22.38;
400: 1 Ollie Lindsay-Hague (S) 51.90; 800: 1 Davey Platt (D) 1:58.16; 1500: 1 Nathan Young (S) 4:07.82; 100H/400H: 1 Lee Hamilton (C ) 13.57/55.69; 3000: 1 Joe Dalgleish (G) 9:10.76;
1500S/C: 1 Charlie MacLean (S) 4:33.31; HJ: 1 M Sloane (Do) 1.93; TJ: 1 Fred Adomakoh (A) 13.44; LJ: 1 Ding Yang (A) 6.56; JT: 1 David Hollow (D) 57.86; DT: 1 Peter Howard (D) 44.71;
SP: 1 James Preston (A) 14.25; HT: 1 Jay Hill (C ) 54.74; PV: 1 Tony Hillier (A) 4.20 (CBP).
Senior boys - 100: 1 Nick Clements (S) 11.21; 200: Tim Sayers (S) 22.94; 400: 1 Ian Bray (W) 49.36; 800: 1 Michael Cole (D) 1:53.87; 1500: 1 Richard Peters (A) 4:02.83; 110: 1 Simon Merrill (A) 14.81; 400H: 1 Matt Parsley (D) 56.12; 3000: 1 Ed Cawthron (D) 8:51.7; 2000S/C: 1 Phil Norman (D) 5:59.75; LJ: 1 B Pickup (Do) 6.84; JT: 1 J Payne (Do) 51.79; HJ: 1 A Abioye (Do) 1.85; DT: 1 Nicholas Roberts-Huntley (D) 37.90; TJ: 1 M Calver (Do) 13.34; PV: 1 Douglas Curwen-Reed (A) 4.50 (CBP); SP: 1 Andrew Coury (A) 14.68; HT: 1 Alex Warner (G) 51.41.
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