KELLY College Swim Squad set out at 5.30 in the morning on Sunday to take part, for the first time, in the Southern Schools' Biathlon Championships (swim/run) held at Northcroft Leisure Centre in Newbury, Berkshire.
Kelly College had a small squad of girls, many of whom were competing in biathlon for the first time. Sophie Stanford, Meghan Spence, Whitney Bowrin, Megan Tinsley, Annie Tinsley, Amy Bayliss and Jo John all performed well and used this event as a warm-up for next week's south west biathlon qualifier. Jo John was placed sixth in the teachers' event.
The day really belonged to the Kelly College boys who, in their first competition since June, came home with a fistful of medals.
Year 6 boys led the way with Alex Shepard and Mark Brend, with Mark taking the gold in the swim and second place overall, qualifying him for the national championships. Year 7's Lawrence Oxborough was placed sixth and Adam John eighth.
Years 8, 9 and 10, and the Kelly boys clinched second place in all three years with Gregg Shrosbree, Matthew Henry and Alex Richards qualifying for the national championships to be held next year in March at Sheffield.
Year 9 boys Matthew Henry, Philip Channon and Jonathan Sprague also qualified by being placed second in the team event, while Kyle Bayliss (year 10) also qualified in sixth place in the individual event.
The highlight of the day came in the last two events with year 12/13 boys, Matthew Slator, Matthew Hill and Thomas Phillips taking the team gold, while Matthew Slator won the individual with Thom fourth and Matthew Hill fifth. Not to be outdone, Richard Brady then took top spot in the teachers' event.
Kelly College have eight boys qualified for the individual event at the National Championships on March 7 2004, plus two teams.