Young athletes in Essex are a hop, skip and jump ahead of the rest of the country after clinching victory at the English Schools Athletics Championships for the seventh successive year.

The contest, which was held in Sheffield last weekend, saw the Essex team clinch overall victory by a clear 60-point gap, with some outstanding individual performances.

Jordan Lau of Moulsham High School, Chelmsford, had a massive leap of 7m 21 in the long jump which secured him first place in the intermediate boys section, a jump that actually exceeded the distance of the senior boys winner.

Senior Boy's team officer, Gary Lister, said that the win confirms the county's position as a force to be reckoned with.

He said: "We are such a strong county when it comes to athletics.

"To qualify, the athletes need to reach national entry standards and where some county's struggle to find 20 youngsters, we ended up with around 80."

"The actual fact that we've won seven years on the trot is quite an amazing feat.

" But credit must be given to the athletes themselves for all the hard work they have put in, as have their coaches," he added.

Iris Pummell, portfolio holder for education at Essex County Council, added: "This proves Essex can actually take on the whole of the country and beat them.

"It shows a lot of commitment from the students, who work extremely hard and to have achieved this result is marvellous."

Other outstanding performances came from James Tydeman of Shenfield High School, who was first in the intermediate boys 1500m, and Jonathan Lundman of Helena Romanes School, Great Dunmow, was crowned the senior boys javelin champion.

Hollie Redman of Tabor High School, Braintree finished second in the junior girls discus, Kim Wall of William De Ferrers School, Woodham was first in 200 metres, Ellie Childs, of Billericay School, was second in senior girls 800 metres, Sarah Harvey, from the Helena Romanes School, Dunmow, took first place in the senior girls javelin, and Ross Zerafa, of Brentwood County High School, won bronze in the junior boys shot put.

(Right) Silver medallist: Tabor High School, Braintree, Year 9 pupil, Hollie Redman, who came second in the Junior Girls Discus event at the English Schools Athletics Championships in Sheffield.

(Left) Bronze boy: Fyfield's Ross Zefara, who attends Brentwood County High School, won the bronze medal in the under 15s Junior Boys shot put event.

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