GUERNSEY will have five representatives at this year’s English Schools’ Athletics Championships in Gateshead this weekend. But the most famous of the five – double gold medallist Kylie Robilliard – will be wearing a Leicestershire vest, as she is no longer educated locally.

The sprint hurdler remains the only Guernsey athlete to win a track title at the biggest and most important meeting in the youth track-and-field calendar.

She won both titles while at La Mare de Carteret Secondary, but now has moved on to college in Loughborough and will compete in the senior girls’ race this weekend.

Gemma Tingay, the island women’s shot put and javelin record-holder and formerly of Les Beaucamps, will represent Hampshire at the event.

Meanwhile, three Guernsey-based athletes join the Channel Islands county team up north and they do so with the vital and welcome financial support of Collins Stewart, sponsors of the junior and senior island school sports.

Erica Bodman will compete in the senior girls’ high jump, Kimberley Gleeson in the intermediate girls’ long jump and Michael Batiste in the intermediate 400m hurdles.

It will be tough but memorable, said Guernsey Secondary Schools’ Athletics Association secretary Charlie Cottam.

‘The young athletes at the nationals are the best in the country and for our young people to have an opportunity to take part in this kind of event and compete against others from outside the island is a great experience,’ he said.

The four-day trip costs approximately £450 per head and is heavily funded by Collins Stewart, as Cottam explained.

‘As with most things in life, taking part in the nationals costs a lot of money and we are grateful that Collins Stewart understands the value to our school athletes and is willing to contribute to the cost of travelling to the event.’