Haydon Bridge girls shine
Last updated 15:38, Thursday, 26 June 2008
HAYDON Bridge High School intermediate girls and boys teams were flying the flag for Northumberland in the recent English Schools Athletics Cup Regional B Finals, held at Costello Park, Hull.
Strong performances in the Northumberland round of the competition gained them qualification for this final, where they joined 22 other schools from the North-East in a team competition, where each team member had to compete in a track and a field event, scoring points against standards.
Competing against teams from Harrogate, Durham, Beverley, Middlesbrough and Alnwick, the girls’ team had an outstanding day. This culminated in them going into the final race of the programme in first place with a lead of a handy two points over Longcroft School, representing Humberside.
Unfortunately, their relay team proved too strong for the plucky Haydon Bridge girls who were pushed back into the runners-up spot by the narrowest of margins.
The final match score saw Longcroft on 263, Haydon Bridge 261 with St Leonard’s in bronze on 241.
The Haydon Bridge boys’ team achieved a creditable fifth place, scoring 318 points against strong opposition.
St Leonard’s took gold in this competition on 353, with Lady Lumley’s second (347) and Nunthorpe third (346).
Also qualifying for the finals, in the junior boys section was Allendale Middle School.
This was a great achievement for a school which has only 25 boys to select from in each year group, competing against much larger city comprehensives.
They recorded a string of personal best performances to finish in seventh place.
With many members of the teams still eligible for their age groups next season, the athletes are confident of even greater success next year.
