ANOTHER soaring performance from Tom Gale was the highlight at the 2016 Wiltshire Track & Field Championships in Swindon, writes KEVIN FAHEY.

The 18-year-old Trowbridge athlete completed a great week as he added one centimetre to the personal best of 2.13m set just seven days earlier with a superb 2.14m.

“It is definitely going quite well,” said the modest Gale, who is a student at John of Gaunt School and has been named to make his debut for GB U20s in the Loughborough international on Sunday, along with Yatesbury's 3000m runner Gemmra Shepherd.

“I also clipped 2.17m (World Junior Championships qualifying height) with my heel so it was really close. I am sure I will get that soon.”

Gale revealed that he tapped into modern technology to get advice and tips from his Cardiff-based coach Denis Doyle while the competition was underway.

“My dad had his computer there and was using Skype so that Denis, who was in north Wales with another one of his athletes, could see me jump,” added Gale.

“It was a good idea and it was nice to get the feedback from Denis, who could tell me to move my run-up back or put more energy into my last pace before jumping. It was really useful.”

Gale’s huge leap shattered the championship record of two metres set by Rob Mitchell in 2012 and was one of five sparkling performances on the day.

In the middle distances the outstanding victory came from 13-year-old Rory Howorth, from Hilperton, near Trowbridge.

Howorth beat the 33-year-old U15 boys’ record of 4:15.5 set by Andrew Stanley by a decisive margin of two seconds as he smashed his own personal best with 4mins 13.4secs.

That is good enough to lift Howorth to third in the UK Rankings for 1500m in addition to his fifth place in the 800m.

“I was really pleased with that and very happy to get the championship record,” said Howorth.

“It was a big PB as I ran 4mins 18secs last year so I would have been happy to get under 4ins 16secs. It now means I have run the qualifying time for both 800m and 1500m for the English Schools’ Championships.”

The St Augustine’s College student also won the 80m hurdles in a PB time of 12.57secs and was runner-up to team Bath clubmate William Scammell in the long jump with another PB of 5.32m – just one centimetre off gold – and the 100m.

Howorth sometimes trains with Bradford on Avon athlete Jenna Bundell for multi events and the 14-year-old also made the county record books with her victory in the U7 women’s 80m hurdles.

Blundell clocked 11.94secs, just 0.02secs off her recent PB, to eclipse the 31-year-old record of 12.1secs held by S McKinley. Silver medalist Imogen Dawe-Lane, of Devizes, also beat the previous record with 12.04secs.

Blundell also went on to win a further two gold medals in the long jump (4.92m) and the high Jump (1.62m), the latter a PB by two centimetres, to complete an excellent day.

The other championship record on the track went to 15-year-old Sam Roberts, who won the U17mens 100m hurdles in a time of 13.97secs. The Chippenham-based athlete broke D Colford’s 1988 record of 14.2secs with a very assured performance.

The fifth and final record came in the field with Katie Loach, of Swindon Harriers, throwing 27.94m to win the U15 girls’ hammer to break club-mate Zoe Ann Bishop’s 2015 record of 26.05.

Finally in the relays the Swindon Harriers senior women’s team ran 53.5secs for the 4x100m, equalling the 2014 record.

In line with WAA’s policy of encouraging disability sports, the championships this year included throws for disability athletes for the first time, and Charlie Goodwin, of Lavington Athletics, claimed both new records, winning the senior men’s disability discus with 20.56m and the shot with 7.9m.

“The whole day went very well, and it was great to see records broken – it just shows how athletics in Wiltshire is thriving, with performances improving all the time,” said Alison Phillips, the WAA Track and Field secretary.

“It was also good to see such a strong entry in the Quad Kids competition, as this is the right way to bring on new young athletes and make sure they experience all the athletic disciplines early on in their competition careers.”

Other double gold medal winners included the county sprint trio of Southwick’s Zoe Mattacks (senior 100m and 200m), Westbury’s William Kennedy (senior 100m and 200m) and Ulas Akkus of Chippenham (under 17 men’s 100m and 200m).

As for the medal table Swindon Harriers came out on top with a total of 80 medals – well up on 60 from las year – with Team Bath on 63.

NEW CHAMPIONSHIP RECORDS

Tom Gale (Team Bath) senior men’s high jump – 2.14m.

Rory Howorth (Team Bath) U15 boys 1500m – 4:13.4.

Sam Roberts (Team Bath) U17 mens 100m hurdles - 13.97.

Jenna Blundell (Team Bath) U17 women’s 80m hurdles – 11.94.

Katie Loach (Swindon Harriers) U15 girls’ hammer - 27.94m.

2016 Wiltshire Track & Field Championships results

Senior women – 100: 1 Zoe Mattacks (TB) 13.1; 2 Stephanie Houston (Sw) 14.3; 200: 1 Mattacks 27.58; 2 Holly Newman (AVR) 29.06; 400: 1 Hannah Wrigley (TB) 61.94; 800: 1 Wrigley 2:21.0; 2 Newman 2:36.4; 5000: 1 Hannah Claydon 18:20; 100H: 1 Mattacks 17.3; 400H: 1 Elisabeth Clifford (S) 62.57; HJ: 1 Hannah Tapley (Worcs) 1.60; 2 Georgia Patterson (Bel) 1.45; 3 Danielle Scott (S) 1.40; LJ: 1 Abby Miles (Sw) 5.41; 2 Lydia Rogers (Sw) 4.75; 3 Houston 4.58; TJ: 1 Miles 10.28; 2 Rogers 10.10; Jav: 1 Sophie Thomas (B’field) 38.57; HT: 1 Zoe Large (Sw) 28.66; DT: 1 Large 22.41; SP: 1 Thomas 12.20; 2 Large 8.13.

U17 women – 100: 1 Skye Allen (CoS) 13.06; 2 Oriele Grigg (Sw) 13.21; 3 Molly Bennett (TB) 13.48; 200: 1 Grigg 27.48; 2 Allen 27.51; 3 Teresa Iannetelli (Sw) 28.35; 300: 1 Jess Alexander (Sw) 44.54; 2 Ariana Watling (TB) 45.85; 800: 1 Caroline Brenchley (TB) 2:26.9; 2 Natalie Pidgeon (TB) 2:41.3; 3 Chloe Crippen (HRC) 2:44.1; 1500: 1 Caitlin Wosika (TB) 4:52.23; 2 Jade Littlechild (TB) 4:56.69; 3 Chloe Hayward (Sw) 5:27.03; 3000: 1 Lucy Fitzpatrick 11:51.20; 2 Katie Strange (TB) 11:59.16; 80H: 1 Jenna Blundell (TB) 11.94 (CBP); 2 Imogen Dawe-Lane (TB) 12.04; 3 Catherine McQue (Ma) 13.91; 300H: 1 Dawe-Lane 46.17; 2 Becky Alexander (Sw) 51.71; 3 Sophie Oatley (P) 53.48; HJ: 1 Blundell 1.62; 2 Morgan Ringwood (S) 1.40; LJ: 1 Blundell 4.92; 2 Ringwoood 4.41; 3 Morgan Golledge (TB) 4.21; TJ: 1 Oatley 9.08; 2 Golledge 8.98; 3 Livi Cunningham (Sw) 8.61; PV: 1 Esme Holding (Sw) 2.10; Jav: 1 Imogen Hurst (TB) 34.37; 2 Knight 33.82; 3 Amy Davidson (Ma) 17.86; HT: 1 Gabriella Holt (TB) 37.17; 2 Zoe-Ann Bishop (Sw) 33.63; DT: 1 Georgia Pickford (LA) 26.79; 2 Amy Davidson (Ma) 18.15; SP: 1 Lauren Beasley 9.22; 2 Caroline Brenchley (TB) 7.70.

U15 girls – 100: 1 Kiya Goodwin (Sw) 13.32; 2 Phoenix Wicheard (TB) 13.85; 3 Annie Fitter (Ma) 13.85; 200: 1 Goodwin 28.01; 2 Onioluwa Taiwo (CoS) 28.26; 3 Moy Hole (CoS) 28.68; 800: 1 Eleanor Webster (TB) 2:28.05; 2 Sarah Brett (A) 2:30.15; 3 Eva Porter (TB) 2:32.07; 1500: 1 India Ibbotson (TB) 5:05.26; 2 Sophie Capel (Sw) 5:11.21; 3 Megan Poole (Sw) 5:12.99; 75H: 1 Hannah New (Sw) 13.0; 2 Mia Bates (TB) 13.3; 3 Katie Loach (Sw) 13.5; HJ: 1 Lucy-Jane Matthews (S) 1.53; 2 Abbe Elms (TB) 1.45; 3 Georgie Noble (Ma) 1.25; LJ: 1 Matthews 4.68; 2 Webster 4.59; 3 Charley Hall (Sw) 4.59; PV: 1 Bethany Brewer (Sw) 2.00; Jav: 1 Molly Hole (CoS) 32.21. 2 Shahla Davidson (Ma) 13.25; HT: 1 Katie Loach (Sw) 27.94 (CBP); DT: 1 Loach 18.26; 2 Davidson 18.00; 3 Maya Short (Ma) 14.25; SP: 1 Hole 9.84; 2 Lottie Ramsay 7.44; 3 Ellie Ringwood (CoS) 6.98.

U13 girls – 100: 1 Phoebe Card (TB) 13.94; 2 Ebony Hammond (TB) 14.13; 3 Phe Phe Pye (M) 14.48; 200: 1 Hammond 29.51 2 Card 30.16; 3 Flo O’Donovan (LA) 30.49; 800: 1 Rose Warren (CoS) 2:32.38; 2 Lavinia Rai (Sw) 2:36.27; 3 Alice Thornton (CoS) 2:36.88; 1500: 1 Beatrice Wood (CoS) 5:06.46; 2 Olivia Roderick (IIF) 5:07.08; 3 Freya Buglass (AVR) 5:20.74; 70H: 1 Willa Gibb (Y) 12.03; 2 Edie Noble (Ma 12.72; 3 Issy Imeson (Sw) 13.56; 300H: 1 Imogen Dawe-Lane (TB) 46.17; 2 Becky Alexander (Sw) 51.71; 3 Sophie Oatley (Poole) 53.48; HJ: 1 Neve Keating (Sw) 1.18; 2 Jessica Kinnear (Sw) 1.15; LJ: 1 Ebony Hammond (TB) 4.43; 2 Alice Thornton (CoS) 4.14; 3 Noble 3.72; Jav: 1 Megan Galpin (Warminster School) 19.52; 2 Lilly Jones (NF) 12.21; 3 Katie New (Sw) 9.77; DT: 1 Hannah Dickinson (Ma) 14.36; SP: 1 Martha Royle (CoS) 6.28; 2 Imeson 5.86; 3 Alice McQue (Ma) 4.10.

Senior men – 100: 1 William Kennedy (TB) 11.17; 2 Jordan Earley (TB) 11.44; 3 Louis Toto 11.60; 200: 1 Kennedy 22.87; 2 Torto 23.38; 3 Scott Gunning (Sw) 23.56; 400: 1 Ciaran Cooper (Sw) 50.42; 2 Gunning 52.30; 3 James Newton (Sw) 56.40; 800: 1 Cooper 1:59.8; 2 Simon Dill (Sw) 2:01.1; 3 Andrew Holme (CoS) 2:17.8; 1500: 1 Jaymee Domoney (CoS) 4:12.20; 2 Cameron Perkins (TB) 4:21.70; 3000: 1 Andrew Holme (CoS) 9:59.27; 2 Steven Underwood (Southampton) 10:01.28; 3 Tim Westcott (Sw) 12:54.82; 5000: 1 Ben Brewster (Southampton) 15:16; 2 Nyle Clinton (Sw) 15:36; 110H: 1 Callum Short (Ma) 58.96; 2 Aaron Bishop (Sw) 65.33; 3 Daniel Large (Sw) 80.43; HJ: 1 Tom Gale (TB) 2.14 (CBP); 2 Johan Warensjo (Sw) 1.80; 3 Bishop 1.80; LJ: 1 Gam Dumbutshena (Sw) 6.60; TJ: 1 Bishop 12.80; Jav: 1 Nick Ritchings (Sw) 44.11; 2 Matt Cave (Sw) 37.98; HT: 1 Tim Westcott (Sw) 16.29; 2 Jordan Large (Sw) 16.16; DT: 1 Jack Paget (CoS) 35.70; 2 Large 15.55; SP: 1 Paget 11.96; 2 Ritchings 10.56; 3 Large 7.24.

U17 men – 100: 1 Ulas Akkus (TB) 11.19; 2 Thomas Haworth (Sw) 11.59; 3 Charlie Curry (Ma) 11.92; 200: 1 Akkus 23.11; 2 Haworth 23.68; 3 Jacob Norcliffe (CoS) 24.31; 400: 1 Josh Hole (CoS) 53.86; 2 Sam Waddell (Sw) 55.57; 3 Sam Deadman (Ma) 56.35; 800: 1 Will Crisp (Sw); 2 Hayden Bailey (TB); 3 Dan Davis (Ma); 1500: 1 John Howorth (TB) 4:08.91; 2 Robert Howorth (TB) 4:15.05; 3 Ethan Pierce (Sw) 4:32.72; 3000: 1 Otto Copping (TB) 9:43.39; 2 Charlie Stockley (TB) 9:44.51; 100H: 1 Sam Roberts (TB) 13.94 (CBP); 2 Kieran Short (Ma) 16.47; 400H: 1 Joseph Collins (TB) 59.90; HJ: 1 Kieran Short (Ma) 1.75; LJ: 1 Maric Olech (TB) 6.03; 2 Jake Nickerson (TB) 5.91; 3 Kieran Short (Ma) 5.70; HT: 1 Josh Ricketts (Sw) 29.31; SP: 1 Josh Hole (CoS) 10.85; 2 Josh Ricketts (Sw) 10.60.

U15 boys – 100: 1 William Browne (TB) 12.11; 2 Rory Howorth (TB) 12.57; 3 Reece Gray (Sw) 12.68; 200: 1 Femi Akinbobola (TB) 24.68; 2 Browne 24.77; 3 Jacob Kely (Ma) 25.80; 300: 1 Matthew Smith (Sw) 41.69; 2 William Scammell (TB) 44.02; 800: 1 Gregory Herring (CS) 2: 14.89; 2 Shashwat Chahar (Sw) 2:20.68; 3 Joseph Knibb (Sw) 2:26.21; 1500: 1 Howorth 4:13.4 (CBP); 2 Max Hughes (Ma) 4:48.80; 3 Alex Deadman (Ma) 5:02.50; 3000: 1 Will Morris (LA) 10:06.76; 80H: 1 Howorth 12.57; 2 Akinbobola 12.85; 3 Keelan Tucker (TB) 14.80; HJ: 1 Oliver Rhoads (Ma) 1.45; 2 Joseph McQue (Ma) 1.43; 3 Zac Jones (A) 1.35; LJ: 1 Scammell 5.33; 2 Howorth 5.32; 3 Keelan Tucker (TB) 4.85; TJ: 1 Alex Martin (Sw) 9.23; 2 Ed Marriott (Ma) 9.17; PV: 1 Jack Horne-Smith (Sw) 1.70; Jav: 1 Thomas Holmes (Ma) 33.89; 2 Alex Jones (A) 26.18; 3 Tucker 25.08; HT: 1 Horne-Smith 17.98; 2 Alex Martin (Sw) 17.35; DT: 1 Callum Bishop (Sw) 13.27; SP: 1 Jack Kelly (CoS) 8.60; 2 Jones 6.37; 3 Charlie Langford (Ma) 5.88.

U13 boys – 100: 1 Christian Ifil (Sw) 14.05; 2 Lewis Leftwich (IIF) 14.09; 3 Omar Gray (Sw) 14.26; 200: 1 Robert Jones (NFJ) 28.99; 2 Freddie Webb (Ma) 29.63; 3 Ifi 29.73; 800: 1 Robert Jones (NFJ) 2:23.47; 2 Tom Bieneman (Ma) 2:25.14; 3 Harry Cunningham 2:30.20; 1500: 1 Dan Grant (Sw) 5:15.89; 2 James Hulme (Y) 5:20.28; 3 Ben Jones (Ma) 5:33.07; 75H: 1 Ben Coles (Ma) 17.8; HJ: 1 Ben Mcleod (Ma) 1.20; LJ: 1 Jones 4.30; 2 Ifil 4.116; 3 Alex Rogers 4.02; Jav: 1 Owen Merrett (Y) 27.45; 2 Cunningham 24.88; 3 James Viner (Y) 19.70; DT: 1 Merrett 22.49; 2 Viner 16.16; 3 Jorge Chamberlain (Ma) 11.46; SP: 1 Omar Gray (Sw) 7.59; 2 Merrett 7.44; 3 Viner 6.92.

KEY: Swindon A=Andover; AVR=Avon Valley Runners; CoS=City of Salisbury; HRC=Highworth Running Club; LA=Lavington; M=Moonrakers; Ma=Marlborough & District Juniors; NFJ=New Forest Juniors; P=Poole AC; S=Southampton; Sw=Swindon Harriers; TB=Team Bath AC; Y=Yate & District C.