Redbridge's Isabella Hoy won the 600m Pic: Ray Lawrence/TGS

Four county titles are in the bag

Redbridge schools’ athletes picked up four gold medals at the Essex Schools’ Championships.

The borough’s team found the going tough at the event staged in Melbourne Park, Chelmsford, which is the highlight of the Schools’ athletics calendar.

Blustery headwinds played havoc with athletes’ attempts to post qualifying times for the English Schools’ Championships, but it was in the Intermediate Boys’ section where the borough enjoyed most success.

Redbridge produced three county champions in that age group, with George Hadler storming home in the 400 metres in a time of 59.1 seconds.

There were two more golden moments when James Dewar won the long jump with a leap of 7.05m and James Bongart triumphed in the javelin with a throw on 49.52m. Redbridge’s other victory came in the Year Seven girls’ 600m when Isabella Hoy romped home in 1.50.8

As well as their four county champions, Redbridge picked up three silver medals and it was again in the Intermediate Boys’ section where the borough made a good impression, as George Hamilton recorded a one-two for Redbridge in the long jump.

He followed Dewar’s gold with second place when he cleared 6.67m.

There were silvers too for Ryan Claudio in the Junior Boys’ 200m when he clocked 25.25secs, while in the Intermediate Girls’ long jump A Richards was second with a leap of 4.74m.

The Redbridge squad also bagged two bronze medals when D Richards took third in the Junior Boys’ 800m in a time of 2.13.48, while in the Intermediate Girls’ event G Green filled an identical position in the 80m hurdles, clocking 12.23secs.

Of the 13 boroughs competing at the event, Redbridge’s best finish was in the Intermediate Boys’ section, where they were sixth.

They were eighth in the Junior Boys’ section and 13th in the Year Seven section. The girls’ best finish was 10th in the Year Seven category.

The county winners will be considered for the 60-strong Essex Schools’ team that will compete in the National Schools’ event at Gateshead, starting on Friday July 6.

Results: Essex Schools’ Athletics Championships - Redbridge athletes (finals only): Junior Boys, 200m: 2 R Claudio (Red) 25.25.

800m: 3 D Richards (Red) 2mins 13.48secs.

1,500m: 6 T Maher (Red) 4mins 36.78secs.

Pole: 5 L Okusaga (Red) 2.65m.

Intermediate Boys, 100m: 4 L Oguneitan (Red) 11.86secs.

200m: 7 K Annor (Red) 24.44.

800m: 7 J Fuddar (Red) 2:11.67.

400m hurdles: 1 G Hadler (Red) 59.1secs.

Long jump: 1 J Dewar (Red) 7.05m; 2 G Hamilton (Red) 6.67.

Discus: 5 D Francis (Red) 34.25.

Javelin: 1 J Bongart (Red) 49.52m.

Year 7 Girls, 600m: 1 I Hoy (Red) 1min 50.80secs.

Intermediate Girls, 800m: 4 K Mauididi (Red) 2:35.43.

80m hurdles: 3 G Green (Red) 12.23.

Long jump: 2 A Richards (Red) 4.74m.