Schools launch nine-way battle for honours

School athletics

Nine local schools contested the Years 7 and 8 West Sussex West Championships held at the Mountbatten Centre in Portsmouth.

There were good squads in action from Chichester High School, Bishop Luffa, The Regis School, Felpham Community College, St Philip Howard, Ormiston Six Villages (OSVA), Midhurst Rother, Selsey Academy, Seaford College and Chichester Free School.

Some of the most competitive athletics for many years was seen over five hours with the top team awards being shared between three schools.

Midhurst Rother College claimed both of the girls prizes.

Their Year 7 girls won a a close contest by nine points with a total of 277 from Seaford College in second with 268 and a tie for third between St Philip Howard and Bishop Luffa on 261.

The Year 8 girls’ team from Midhurst Rother retained the trophy they had won in Year 7, with the winning margin of 24 points the largest of the day – scoring 346 points, ahead of Seaford with 322 and Bishop Luffa on 317.

In the boys’ matches, Midhurst Rother maintained the fine form of the girls but were pipped into second place in each instance.

In the Year 8 match Bishop Luffa came out on top with 337 points, just eight in front of Midhurst with St Philp Howard once again occupying one of the top three places Chichester Runners juniors at the Mountbatten Centre earlier this year

with 323 points.

The Year 7 boys’ match was the closest team competition of the day with the lead changing hands on numerous occasions with Seaford College coming out on top

with 287 points, a mere three points ahead of Midhurst on 284 with the ever consistent St Philip Howard in 3rd on 281, just six points separating the top three teams.