READING BLUE COAT student Oliver Matthews was part of the Berkshire octathlon team that made history by claiming victory at the English Schools Multi Events Championships.
This is the first time Berkshire have won the team event at any age group in the 30 years this competition has been running.
Sixth former Matthews, 16, alongside Stuart Bladon, Joel Cable and Harrison Thorne won in the Intermediate Boys’ event in Boston.
Matthews himself had a good weekend with a personal best performance.On day one he produced his top displays in the long jump, discus and javelin, before his best ever 100m hurdles on day two.
“An English Schools title is an excellent achievement,” said Simon Cook, head of athletics at Blue Coat.”Oliver trains very hard and is a dedicated athlete.
To be able to achieve such performances in eight different athletics event is very impressive.
Fellow Blue Coat athlete Ida Burrows competed for Team GB at the 16-19 World Triathlon Championships in Rotterdam last weekend.
In what was only her third triathlon event, Burrows, 16, placed 19th overall.
“Although I’ve been running for a while, I’ve been competing in triathlons only since
January this year,” she said.
“The athletes at the Worlds were of a noticeably higher standard.”Burrows, from Waltham St Lawrence, trains six days a week and head of athletics Cook was full of praise.
“To achieve a result like that in a World Championships is a wonderful achievement,” he said.
“It takes many hours of training and careful preparation to reach such a level.
“I very much look forward to seeing Ida’s future progression at such high levels of her sport.”
