LOCAL students contributed to an historic win at the South West Sports Hall Championships at the Torbay Leisure Centre, as Avon County Schools teams won all four age groups to secure places at the United Kingdom finals at the NEC in March.

LOCAL students contributed to an historic win at the South West Sports Hall Championships at the Torbay Leisure Centre, as Avon County Schools teams won all four age groups to secure places at the United Kingdom finals at the NEC in March.The first time one county has achieved a clean sweep of each of the four competitions came as a result of good all-round teamwork and an excellent team spirit.There were wins for Sophia Thomson Rose (Broadoak School) in the Under-13 girls' four-lap, following this up with a second place in the pairs relay. Olivia Withers (Gordano) won the standing long jump with 2.12m and then contributed to wins by the 4x1 and obstacle relay teams. Natalie Ogden (Backwell) won the speed bounce with 81 bounces, and also took part in the 4x1 and 4x2 lap relay wins.In the Under-13 boys' event, James Lawrence (Worle) won the two-lap race in 21.2, beating teammate Jake Garnett into second place, and took silver in the vertical jump with 63cms. James then ran a great leg in the 4x2 lap relay to secure victory.Joe Smith (Worle) took the silver in the shot with a personal best 10.38m, and schoolmate Gareth Brock took bronze in the speed bounce with 81 bounces, and contributed to the obstacle race win.In the Under-15 events, Ashleigh Pierson (Worle) took silver in the all-rounder competition, winning the four-lap race in 43.5. Jake Fisher (Priory) finished fourth, but won the speed bounce, his speciality, with 90 bounces.In the same competition, Henry Denny (Backwell) finished a great 13th of the 30 competitors.In the girls' Under-15 competition, Bethan Wakefield finished in bronze position, having finished second in both the two-lap and shot. Emma Smith (Backwell) finished ninth, having won the speed bounce and Sidcot's Gwen Davies competed well, finishing in 32nd position.The four teams now go on to represent the South West at the UK Sports Hall finals at the NEC on March 22.Team managers Dave Turner and Susan Jones were impressed by the excellent team spirit and support for each other shown by the athletes, as well as magnificent parental support.