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The Warwickshire County Schools Combined Event Championship

Report – Paul Bearman

Over the years this has been a key part of SUUAC junior athletes’ development and many have gone on to be selected for Warwickshire in the ESAA regional and the national champs like Will Hovell and Seb Hillard did last year. 

The junior’s philosophy has always been based on multi events, as I’ve never believed that a young person’s development should be hampered by specialising too soon and that “having a go” at events gives everyone the opportunity to develop their skills as they too develop physically and mentally. It’s been proven many, many times that the events a young person starts off being good at, given the opportunity as we do in the club, can and does change.

Schools have the responsibility for sending the athletes to the champs and as usual the Warwickshire selectors were pleased that I and via some keen parents, badgered some schools to get our athletes involved, otherwise they would have missed the opportunity to compete and, by my reckoning with 26 of our athletes who competed in the schools CE, it’s probably the biggest number we’ve had involved.

As coaches we’re absolutely thrilled with our current cohort who were selected by their school to represent them and what a terrific effort by everyone.

After finishing in the top few positions in the various age groups, 8 of our athletes have been selected in the Under 15, 17 and Senior Warks team to compete in the Midlands Regional Champs on 27-28^th June in Derby.

A special mention for Imogen Brooks who finished 2^nd in the Minor Girls but they don’t compete in the regional champs.

Lucia Ogilvie-Putt reflected “it was a lovely sunny day, and everyone did really well. Everyone was buzzing to be there as many people had never competed in combined events before. We were so pleased with the results for my school King’s High; we won every age category as a team and I was thrilled when I found out that I came 2nd! I was especially pleased with my long jump as I got a PB. Overall, it was a great day, and I am looking forward to doing it all again in the next round”.

Toby Wilkinson also looked back on his day, “I was really pleased to finish 3^rd in the Year 9 boys in my first combined event competition. I was a bit disappointed with the hurdles but I was relieved to at least get across the line unharmed after only 2 training sessions and my performance was about  where I expected for my 3 field events (shot, high jump, long jump). I didn’t have much competition in my specialist event the 800m, but overall I think it was a really solid start and definitely keen for more opportunities to train hard in all the various events to improve and compete in combined events”.

It’s the sheer quality and superb performances of everyone who competed that is so impressive and also thanks to all our excellent coaches who have trained the athletes to this level of performance.

Roll on the Regional Champs but there’s a lot of hard work before that.