ATHLETES crowned as county champions take on the best of the rest from across the country during the English Schools’ Track and Field Championships this weekend.

The annual two-day event, held at Alexandra Stadium in Birmingham, starts on Friday morning.

George Hyde, a student at Sir John Deane’s College, attempts to win a gold medal for a third successive year after triumphing in the inter boys’ shot at each of the past two editions.

The former Weaverham High School pupil made his debut for Great Britain last week when he narrowly missed out on a place in the final at the European Under 18s Championships.

Holly Weedall, a gold-medallist at county level for both her club and school, makes her debut in the junior girls’ 1,500m.

The Weaverham student is joined by Grace Roberts (Hartford Church of England High School) – a teammate at Vale Royal Athletics Club – in the same event.

Charlie Bancroft and Jack England, two more Cheshire champions from Weaverham, contest the junior boys’ shot and hammer respectively.

Sprinter Mia Lowndes (County High School Leftwich) has been rewarded for her victory in the inter girls’ 100m at the county schools’ championships with a place in the squad.

She was a semi-finalist at the nationals two years ago.

Evie Tipping (Grange), like Weedall a Cheshire number one in 2018 for her club and school, will be among the contenders in the inter girls’ hammer.

Here’s a full list of who is in action, and when:

Provisional timetable

FRIDAY

1010 SG 1,500m (heats) Emily Lowery (Sir John Deane’s College)

1015 JB hammer (final) Jack England (Weaverham)

1034 JG 1,500m (heats) Holly Weedall (Weaverham); Grace Roberts (Hartford)

1127 IG 100m (heats) Mia Lowndes (Leftwich)

1215 JB shot (final) Charlie Bancroft (Weaverham)

1427 IG 100m (semi-finals) Mia Lowndes (Leftwich)

SATURDAY                      

1153 IG 100m (final)

1200 SB shot (final) George Hyde (Sir John Deane’s College)

1215 IG hammer (final) Evie Tipping (Grange School)

1501 JG 1,500m (final) Holly Weedall (Weaverham)

1526 SG 1,500m (final) Emily Lowery (Sir John Deane’s College)

English Schools’ AA Track and Field Championships

When is it?

Friday, July 13 and Saturday, July 14

Where?

Alexander Stadium, Birmingham

Age-groups

Juniors (under 15s)

Intermediate (under 17s)

Senior (under 19s)

Who?

Performances at the district and then county championships have helped Cheshire’s selectors to decide which athletes make the cut

Some had a second opportunity to shine at the Mason Trophy, an inter-counties meeting held at the same venue last month

Results are checked against entry standards – a guide updated every season outlining what time or distance an athlete needs to have posted in order to make the grade (NB. They are not ‘qualifying’ standards)

Link to full Cheshire team

How can I follow what’s happening?

The ESAA has promised to update results online throughout the event at results.esaa.net 

They have a Twitter handle too. It’s @SchoolAthletics