AN OKEHAMPTON Army Cadet has beaten off other youngsters from across the country to become a national athletics champion.

Richard Boyce of Okehampton, won the 800 metres senior boys? event at the Army Cadet Force (AFC) National Championships held last month in Grantham, Lincolnshire.

Richard has qualified for the nationals for the past four years but now has the gold medal he richly deserves. He is a cadet sergeant in the Okehampton Detachment of C (North Devon) Company and is a qualified senior cadet.

Richard?s interests in outdoor activities resulted in his gaining a certificate in adventure activity leadership at Bicton College, where he continues his studies to gain a national certificate in outdoor leisure. He intends to become an adventure training instructor and to qualify as an adult instructor in the Army Cadet Force.