This Is Guernsey

Chelsea Torode wins the Year 6 hurdles event at Foote’s Lane. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 0587668)

CAMERON HANTONNE, a pupil at St Martin’s School, stole the show at the junior schools’ individual athletics championships.

On day one he broke Dale Garland’s 15-year-old record in the Year 5 hurdles. His time of 9.71sec. was fractionally ahead of Garland’s mark of 9.78sec.

Hantonne, whose style and appearance bear an uncanny resemblance to a young Garland, then went on to win the sprint final convincingly.

He followed that up with a record-breaking long jump of 4.02m, just one centimetre ahead of Eben Marsh’s record.  Among the girls’ highlights were the performances of Year 5 pupil Bernadette Binstead who ran superbly to win both hurdles and sprints.

Chelsea Torode also fulfilled the potential that she has shown when competing for the GIAAC as she won the Year 6 sprint, hurdles and high jump.

But nearest to a record was Stephanie Sweet, whose throw of 41m was just one metre short of the 30-year record.

The boys’ contest also saw an exciting battle as Tristan Queripel’s 45m throw was just ahead of Will Fazakerley.

The closest race was the Year 6 boys’ sprint where John Cordall just hung on to beat fellow La Houguette pupil Sam Wallbridge.

Wallbridge then turned the tables to run a technically excellent hurdles race, which he won with ease.

Other highlights included the distance races.

Elise Bisson broke three minutes with 2-59 to win the Year 6 800m while Logan Fallaize ran a measured race to win the boys’ 800m in 2-39.

A special mention should also go to Tom Nightingale, whose high jump performance of 1.25m was exceptional.

It will be a busy time for these athletes whose attention now turns on Wednesday to the Smokebusters junior schools athletics competition sponsored by RG Falla.

Many will then feature in the Fortis Golden Series on Wednesday 25 June and the final event for them will be the inter-insular competition on Saturday 12 July.