SIDMOUTH College athletes acquitted themselves well in the Devon team at the South West Schools Track and Field Championships last weekend.

Nick Dunn competed in both the Shot Put and Discus whilst Kate Vine, Rosie Barrett and Blake Blackwood were on the track against some stiff opposition from the six other counties that make up the area.

It was however good experience for them and they will all be back again next year and, in some cases, even in the same age groups. Rosie will also be back in County Colours later on this year for the Combined Events Championship.

Competing in his last year as a schoolboy Byron Fitzgerald was anxious to put in a good performance in order to get the qualifying time for selection to the English Schools Championships at Gateshead in July.

He has been before and, in the under-17 age group, he in fact made the finals of the 400 hurdles but last year he struggled with the increased hurdle height (3 ft /91cm). This year, in contrast, he has adapted to it and the target of 56.2 seconds was duly achieved.

This puts him in the Top 20 of the Under 20 National Rankings and assured his place at Gateshead and another appearance on Sky TV if he makes the finals again.

To round off the day he pulled off a surprise win in the 400 flat with a big PB of 50.19 seconds and as a result was invited to represent the South West in Belgium later in the year.

With A-level exams nearly finished he hopes that his grades will see him through to a University place where he can continue with his athletics at a higher level.