TOM Gale equalled his personal best as he claimed his first title of 2016 at the South West Indoor Championships held in Cardiff, writes KEVIN FAHEY.

The 17-year-old from Trowbridge cleared 2.05m for a convincing victory in the U20 men’s competition and then went close to improving his PB at 2.10m.

“It was a very good performance again by Tom and he has now jumped 2.05m back to back which shows great consistency,” said coach Di Viles.

“He should be happy with that but Tom wanted more and would have liked to clear 2.10m.”

Gale was one of nine newly-crowned South West champions from Wiltshire at the two-day event in Wales.

Hilperton’s Rory Howorth made the most of his trip as he won two golds and a silver.

The 13-year-old St Augustine’s College student won the 800m and 60m hurdles events and then came runner-up in the long jump behind Team Bath clubmate William Browne, who soared to an impressive 5.41m.

“Rory has one eye on his multi events so was pleased with that,” said mum Caroline.

For 14-year-old St Augustine College student Browne, from Trowbridge, the winning leap was his best mark indoors and was only nine centimetres outside his lifetime best outdoors.

The sprinters had a good day with Westbury’s 18-year-old William Kennedy winning the U20 men’s 60m and 16-year-old Sheldon School sprinter marking his debut indoors with gold in the U17 men’s 60m.

Trowbridge sprinter Abi Davies, who now competes for Southampton AC, was also successful lifting the senior women’s 60m crown in 7.94secs while in the sprint hurdles Jenna Blundell won the U17 women’s 60 event.

Bratton’s Hayden Bailey opted for the South of England U17/15 Indoor Championships at the Lee Valley Stadium, London. Following a fast heat the 15-year-old came fifth in the final of the under 17 men’s 800m.

FOLLOWING a course inspection of Monday the organisers of the Wiltshire Cross Country Championships at Grittleton House School on Saturday decided to postpone the meeting.

“Unfortunately Grittleton House School had a huge amount of rain over the weekend onto ground that was already very wet,” said organiser Tim Whiting.

“The course, general grounds and car parking areas are just now too wet to use and need a prolonged period to drain and dry out.

“This is of course very frustrating and causes a good deal of inconvenience to many people for which we are sorry.”

The event is now planned for next Saturday (January 23) with a second date of January 30 also pencilled in – seven days before the South West Schools’ Championships in Cheltenham.