LRGS athletes go for gold
Congratulations to the LRGS athletics team who had a comprehensive victory at the Northern Schools HMC Athletics Championships in Gateshead, comfortably beating Newcastle Royal Grammar School and Sedbergh School into second and third place respectively. Amongst the victories on the day, the 4 x 400m relay team of Joe Bywater, Callum Mason, Beau Smith and Ben Akin won the trophy race in a new record time of 3m 32s (please note, not 4m 32s, as printed elsewhere).
A total of 15 schools took part in the championships from across the north of England (Ampleforth, Barnard Castle, Dame Allen Boys, Durham, Hulme GS, Hymers, Leeds GS, Mount St Mary’s, Newcastle RGS, Pocklington, Sedbergh, St Bees, QEGS Wakefield, Woodhouse Grove and Yarm). The overall score was 268 points for LRGS; Newcastle RGS achieved 181 and Sedbergh 175.
Gold medals were won by Captain Ben Akin in the 400m, with five other seniors joining him: Beau Smith 800m, Callum Mason 1500m, Ben Wardell long jump, Damon Hall triple jump and Lewis Arbon high jump. In the intermediates, Umar Falalu 200m and Joe Bywater 400m and juniors Robert Shaw 1500m; Matt Shackleton 3000m; Rowan Stennett triple jump and James Deed javelin. This was backed up with senior silver medals in 3000m for Adam Bateson; Pole Vault Tom Porteous, intermediate ones with Alex Gardner (2 in 100m and long jump); Kinsey Aikman for high jump and Manny Obale for triple jump and junior one with Otis McKie’s successes in 100m and high jump and Duncan Mackenzie in hurdles.
Others on the podium with bronze medals included senior Sam Martin in javelin and Ben Wardell again, this time in 100m. For the Intermediates Ed Dunkley gained bronze for 3000m and Joel Maudsley for discus along with junior James Riach in 800m. All three age group relay teams won bronze medals.
Coach Paul Sunderland said: “Nearly everyone scored points and the team support was second to none. Not only did we have the most wins, we were also the most vociferous! As there are limited events for the senior and inter team to participate in, this was a terrific result and a good number of them will be going on to represent the Lancaster district at the Lancashire Championships in June, whilst a number of the juniors will be taking part in the National track and field cup competition in the coming week.”
Full scores are in the attachment - see above.
