SOUTH-EAST Essex Schools continued their dominance of the English Track & Field Cup with more stunning showings in the National Final held at Bedford on Saturday.
Southend High School for Boys clinched the Inter Boys title, finishing just ahead of Rayleigh's FitzWimarc School and Thundersley's King John.
Southend High School for Girls also won the Junior Girls age group to make it a fantastic double for the town.
Southend High also claimed second in the Junior Boys with Westcliff High in third, ahead of FitzWimarc who came fifth.
Southend High were also on the podium in the Inter Girls section, finishing third just ahead of Fitz while King John claimed sixth.
In the Junior Girls, King John were also sixth with Fitz, who had all four of their teams in the final for the first team, coming seventh.
SIXTEENTH NATIONAL CROWN FOR SOUTHEND HIGH SCHOOL FOR BOYS
SOUTHEND High School for Boys’ head of PE Steve Thomas was thrilled by his 16th national title on the track.
His squad edged out his former school, FitzWimarc, to finish in first in the Inter Boys competition.
And Thomas was delighted to pick up yet another victory.
“We’ve won 16 national titles in athletics and six in cross country which is very good and very pleasing,” said Thomas.
“We were second ranked going in after the A finals so knew we had a shout.
“But I think it’s great for our area that we’ve got King John, FitzWimarc and Southend as the top three teams and we’re probably in a five mile radius of each other.”
Southend also finished in the Junior Boys, behind the Williams Edwards School in Grays.
The Southend High School for Girls' junior and intermediate girls teams
THE PERFECT SEND OFF FOR SOUTHEND HIGH SCHOOL FOR GIRLS' HEADTEACHER
SOUTHEND High School for Girls’ headteacher Alison Clewlow said the team’s latest triumph was the perfect way for her to end her spell in charge.
Clewlow has led the school for the past seven years and is retiring this month.
And she was thrilled to see the pupils pick up yet another national title as they triumphed in the junior girls section.
“There have been so many now but this is utterly brilliant,” beamed Clewlow.
“It’s always agonising watching and I get very nervous, but the staff we have here are beyond belief.
“It’s wonderful what they and the girls have achieved and they’re just magnificent.
“It’s the perfect way for me to finish with the school too.”
Southend also worked their way on to the podium in the Inter Girls section, finishing third.
Westcliff High School for Boys junior boys team
WESTCLIFF HIGH SCHOOL FOR BOYS TEAM MAKES HISTORY
WESTCLIFF High School were also celebrating after securing their first ever podium finish.
The school claimed third place in the junior boys section with 518 points.
And their head of PE Dan Phillips labelled the achievement as the school’s best ever in the sport.
“We’re really happy to have made the podium,” said Phillips.
“We were ranked third coming into the event so we were hopeful of doing it, but that was our highest ever finish in this competition, so we’re delighted.
“We had had two fourths previously but this is definitely our biggest achievement in athletics during my 11 years here. “Hopefully we can step on now and maybe go one or two places higher next year.”
FitzWimarc School's two boys teams
FitzWimarc School's girls teams
King John School's intermediate boys team
King John School's junior and intermediate girls teams
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