Four Ripon Grammar School students being selected to represent North Yorkshire at one of the country’s most prestigious national championships.
Pip Robinson, Holly Nash and Beth Takieddine will all compete at the English Schools’ Track and Field Championships in Birmingham on July 10th and 11th, after outstanding performances throughout the season.
Fellow athlete Simon Bordewich was also selected for the North Yorkshire squad but has sadly been forced to withdraw through injury.
The quartet are among just 40 athletes chosen to represent the county, with selection based on exceptional displays at both the North Yorkshire Schools Championships and the Inter-Counties Championships.
At the North Yorkshire Schools Championships in York, RGS athletes dominated the competition, returning home with an extraordinary five county titles.
Holly Nash was crowned county champion in the 400m hurdles, Simon Bordewich stormed to victory in the 400m, Beth Takieddine completed a sprint double by winning both the 100m and 200m titles, Ollie Deavin claimed the 3,000m crown and boarding student Pip Robinson won the pole vault title while equalling the championship record.
Pip won the junior girls’ pole vault competition, Holly finished fourth in the senior girls’ 400m hurdles, Beth earned two bronze medals in the intermediate girls’ 100m and 200m and Ollie secured second place in the senior boys’ 3,000m.
Simon was unable to compete because of injury.
RGS director of sport Adam Milner said:
"Every one of these athletes has performed brilliantly, not only at county level but also against some of the strongest competition in the region.
"Their success is even more impressive given the variety of disciplines they compete in, from sprinting and hurdles to pole vault and middle distance running,”
"These students are fantastic ambassadors for RGS.
"They balance demanding training schedules with their studies and consistently demonstrate determination, humility and a desire to keep improving.
"We look forward to cheering them on at English Schools and seeing what they achieve next."
16-year-old Holly from Ripon added:
“I started athletics in Year 7 as a cross-country and long-distance runner.
“Then in Year 9 I moved to City of York Athletics Club and started to take hurdles and combined events seriously.”
“I would love to medal at English Schools and aim to qualify to represent England in the next few years.
"They are big dreams but not out of reach.”
Although not selected for English Schools, Ollie Deavin has also enjoyed a breakthrough season.
The 17-year-old from Knaresborough, who took up middle-distance running just two years ago, claimed county gold and Inter-Counties silver in the 3,000m.
A member of Harrogate Harriers, Ollie has lofty ambitions.
“I want to take this sport as far as my limits will allow and ultimately want a Great Britain vest and to run professionally, even for a short time,”.
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