Multi Events 2003
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Dorset Schools Multi-events

Kings Park, Bournemouth

Saturday 3rd May 2003

 Following the showers and heavy rain of the preceding week, it was good to be able to turn up to Kings Park for the annual Dorset Schools Multi-events competition reasonably confident after positive weather forecasts. A late Easter meant that the date coincided with the first weekend of the summer term and entries were down on the last two years.  However, the now established format of one run, one jump and one throw proved popular enough to encourage 73 youngsters to try their hand over the three hours of competition. As usual, there was a relaxed and friendly atmosphere among rivals who, nevertheless, competed with great determination. There was one new county record set: Serita Shone (Thomas Hardye) was impressive in the Junior Girls’ category. Once again Dorset Schools Athletic Association is grateful for the assistance so willingly offered by Dorset County AA officials who helped in the smooth running of the afternoon as well as to the Kings Park ground staff.

 Among the Senior Girls, the competition was dominated by athletes from Bryanston who filled the top three places and comfortably took the team title. Individual winner was Katherine Elliott who was stronger than the next three girls (who included team mates, Kirsty Morris and Sarah Mynott), all of whom had chosen the same combination of events.

 In the Intermediate Girls' category, the competition was dominated by Canford athletes, with Caitlin Poultney’s performance in the shot proving decisive. Her two team mates, Tara Dufty and Alice Plowman tied for second place. Unsurprisingly, therefore, the team title went Canford’s way.

 There was an impressive performance too in the Junior Girls' competition where procedings were domininated by Serita Shone from Thomas Hardye’s School in Dorchester who won all three of her chosen events and finished well clear of the runner-up, Lauren Cunningham (Parkstone Grammar), who had the consolation of being part of the winning team. Canford’s Chloe Woodhead showed promise in third place.

 In the Minor Girls' competition, Wey Valley’s Jemma Tewksbury was only two points short of equalling the county record. Lucy Waller (Castle Court) was clearly the next best athlete who, though eleven points behind the winner, was sixty-five points clear of third place, Rebecca Lamb of Lockyer’s Middle School. Rebecca combined with her team mates to provide the winning team score.

 The Senior Boys' competition was numerically dominated by athletes from Canford, but athletically dominated by Bournemouth College’s Alex Rowberry whose 100m and Long Jump were enough to guarantee him victory. There was a tie for second place between Tom Davis and Peter O’Hanlon from Canford.  Canford strong presence meant that the team title was a formality.

The top scoring athlete of the day was Purbeck’s Nick Phillips in the Intermediate Boys' category. Two “no-throws” in the shot meant that he had to “play safe” with his third and final attempt, which left him five points short of the record. There were outstanding performances from Summerbee’s Daniel Brunsden (who threw an excellent 46m64 in the Javelin) and Corfe Hills’ Jonathan Boyle, making this the category of the highest quality of the day.  Canford took the team title.

 Twynham School dominated the  Junior Boys' category  with the first six finishers. Jared Sharman finished just three points ahead of Josh Charlesworth, with Alex Feltham just a further four points adrift. These are athletes of some potential and Twynham School (who won the team title) should have good years ahead of them.  

In the Minor Boys' division, there was a disappointing turn-out with only one entry: Matthew Sloane (Twynham) ran, jumped and threw as if he was against a host of competitors and fully deserved his medal at the end of the day. 

DSAA Multi-events team manager, Pete Clarke, is always hopeful that some of those who competed will feel that they would like to try a full Pentathlon, Heptathlon, Octathlon or Decathlon (depending upon age).  On this showing there are many who would be well capable of doing so. They are asked to contact the DSAA as a matter of urgency if they would like further information.  E-mail contact details are on the DSAA web site (www.dsaa.org.uk)

 Peter Fryer