ELLIOT Bowker has claimed a silver medal at the English Schools’ Track and Field Championships for a second successive year.

The Sir John Deane’s College student, representing Cheshire, finished as runner-up in the senior boys’ 3,000m at Gateshead on Saturday afternoon, matching his achievement over the same distance 12 months ago.

Bowker, 18, formed part of a break of four athletes at the start of the last lap, rising to second – behind victor William Fuller – in a sprint for the line.

The Vale Royal Athletics Club runner timed 8:28.49, adding another gong to a bronze-coloured one collected after classifying third over 5,000m at the England Under 20s Championship last month.

Weaverham High School’s George Hyde won a silver medal too, in the junior boys’ shot.

The 14-year-old’s best throw, 15.15m, is more than half-a-metre further than his previous personal record.

Another Vale Royal member, Jacob Brown, stood on the podium following the senior boys’ 800m final after finishing third.

The Sandbach School student, second in his heat on Friday, crossed the line clear of fourth-placed Billy Kelsey (Hertfordshire) in 1:53.83.

A handful of pupils from schools in mid Cheshire reached finals.

County champion Jenny Pyatt, of St Nicholas RC High School, was sixth in the inter girls’ discus with 37.74m.

Amy Hinchly (Tarporley) ranked seventh overall in the senior girls’ 1,500m, with Vale Royal clubmate Katie Gerrard (Grange) one position further back.

Cransley’s Ellie Jackson lowered her personal best to 11.36s in the junior girls’ 75m hurdles final, classifying seventh.

Ben Lee, from the Grange, timed 2:01.87 to finish in the same position in the junior boys’ 800m final.

Weaverham duo Daniel Berg and Will Rattray contested the junior boys’ hammer and discus respectively, the former throwing a lifetime best of 40.40m to occupy 12th place in a high-quality competition.

Results (selected)

English Schools’ Track and Field Championship

Gateshead International Stadium

Friday, July 10 and Saturday, July 11

Senior boys

3,000m: 2. Elliot Bowker (Sir John Deane’s) 8:28.49

800m final: 3. Jacob Brown (Sandbach) 1:53.83

Junior boys

800m final: 7. Ben Lee (Grange) 2:01.87

Discus: 11. William Rattray (Weaverham) 33.52m

Hammer: 12. Daniel Berg (Weaverham) 40.40m (pb)

Shot: 2. George Hyde (Weaverham) 15.15m (pb)

Senior girls

1,500m: 7. Amy Hinchly (Tarporley) 4:39.81; 8. Katie Gerrard (Grange) 4:40.78

Inter girls

Discus: 6. Jenny Pyatt (St Nick’s) 37.74m

Junior girls

75m hurdles: 7. Ellie Jackson (Cransley) 11.36s (pb)