Vale athletes take lions share (From Penarth Times)

Vale athletes take lions share

Vale athletes and schools can look back on this year's The Capitol Shopping Centre sponsored Cardiff & the Vale of Glamorgan Schools senior and middle championships, held at Leckwith on May 9 and 22, with a great deal of satisfaction.

Yes the impact of GCSE, AS and A level examinations was felt - particularly in the senior age group - but that does not in any way devalue the efforts of the 22 Vale athletes, who claimed a total of 31 of the 74 titles on offer.

Vale dominance in the senior boys' section was particularly noticeable with eight athletes chalking up 14 victories - and athletes at Cardiff schools restricted only to wins in four individual events, the 100, 400, 400 hurdles and 2 km walk.

For the second successive year, it was Paul Walker of Cowbridge who was the most impressive athlete. Last year, as an under 17 or middle athlete, he demolished previous pole vault best of 3.40 metres, set by Glyn Price of St Cadoc's in 1982, with a clearance of 4 metres.

A year on, and now competing as a first year senior, Paul went even higher, clearing the bar at 4.45 metres. He was the only Vale athlete to set a new championship best at these championships. That feat now removes Glyn Price from the record sheet as he also set the previous senior best at 3.50 metres in his student days at Barry College in 1983. For good measure, Paul also won the 110 metres hurdles and competed in the long jump and relay.

One Barry resident, Lewis Hort of Glantaf, winner of the middle long and triple jump titles last summer, went one better this time by taking three events in the senior section - the long, high and triple jumps - while three athletes claimed doubles.

Inevitably the Bull brothers of Barry Road cleaned up in the throws with Barry College student Simon, making his last appearance in these championships and after an indifferent winter's training, retaining his shot title, showing improved form to defeat defending champion Alistair Dennis in the javelin but losing his discus title to younger brother Gareth, who also won the hammer. For good measure, a third Bull brother, Ashley of year 10, figured in the placings in the middle pole vault.

The third double winner will be a surprise to the athlete concerned. Cowbridge sixth former James Hunt won the steeplechase and believes that he finished second to fellow year 12 Matthew Jones in the 3000 metres. However under the rules of the competition, athletes may only score in two individual track events and, as Matthew had already competed in the 400m hurdles and 1500, he is classified as a non-scoring athlete in the 3000 with James taking the title.

Three athletes claimed single event victories. Barry & Vale Harrier Rhys Bryer showed his progress under coach John Hartley by taking the 200 while Lewis Bryl of Barry Comp won the 800 and Matthew Jones (Cowbridge) won the 1500 metres.

In the middle boys events, there were impressive performances from the Barry comprehensive duo of Calvin McLaggon and Jamie Nugent.

Calvin, a Welsh Schools' sprint champion for the last two summers, again eased away from the opposition over 100 and 200 to retain his titles while Jamie nearly emulated Lewis Hort. In the triple jump, he was faced with the Welsh Schools' junior champions of 2000 and 2001 in Lewis Johnson (Glyn Derw) and Michael Emezie (Llanishen) and he beat them with a leap, which may well be a personal best.

In the long jump, he was the only athlete to clear 6 metres, but he needs to work on this event if he wishes to emulate Calvin and collect Welsh Schools' honours. His triple victory bid was thwarted in the high jump in which lost his 2001 title in finishing joint second behind senior cup winner Simon Drane of Llanishen.

The other Matthew Jones from Cowbridge, the year 11 variety, might have been another double winner. He claimed the 400 metres hurdles title comfortably, and was the quickest qualifier in the shorter sprint hurdles, but he hit a hurdle in the final and had to settle for fourth, nearly a second slower than his heat time.

Three other Vale athletes won events in this section, Liam Jones (St Cyre's, 800), Matthew Brown (Cowbridge, 3000) and Damien Lack (Barry Comp, 2 km walk).

In the senior girls' competitions, it was encouraging to see Llantwit sixth former Samantha Gamble back in action. She defeated 2001 champions Emma Pengelly (St David's) and Becky Cozens (Whitchurch) to take the 100 and 200 titles.

A second Llantwit sixth former, Lizzy Kelf, successfully defended her javelin title while multi-events athletes Diana Pugh (St Cyre's) and Bethan Price (Cowbridge) won the long jump and high jump respectively.

In the middle competitions, Cowbridge year 11 Leanne Martlew retained her 200 title but had to settle for second behind old rival Natalie Spettie in the 100.

Three year 10 athletes claimed their first middle victories. Lianne Clarke (Cowbridge), the 2001 junior javelin champion, added the middle title to her growing list of successes, Nina Huggett, winner of the junior shot last summer, took the discus this time while Elouise Smith (Cowbridge), the Millennium Youth Games triathlon champion in 2000, won the long jump.

The Cowbridge policy of fielding two athletes in nearly all events paid handsome dividends with victories in three of the four team competitions. Only the Cardiff High School middle girls' squad prevented a clean sweep. However the total points gained in these competitions makes it almost impossible for another school to defeat Cowbridge in the quest for the overall points cup.

Event winners at this meeting, and at championships later in the term, should note the date - Tuesday, September 10 and the venue Ysgol Gyfun Glantaf in Bridge Road, Llandaff North, Cardiff. This is the date for The Capitol shopping centre track & field presentation evening, to start at 7pm.

After half term, there are four events, sponsored by The Capitol Shopping Centre, still to be held. The under 15 championships for pupils in years 8 & 9 will be held at Leckwith on Wednesday, June 12.

A week later, schools will be battling it out in preliminary cup competition rounds as the A final is on Tuesday, June 25 and the B final is one day later. Both those events are at Jenner Park as is the Year 7 championships on Tuesday, July 9.

Cardiff & Vale district teams will be selected after half term for the Welsh Schools' combined events and walks championships at Newport on June 29 and the Welsh Schools' National championships, to be held at Brecon on Saturday, July 6.