FORTY-FIVE young athletes represented nine of South Dorset's schools in the Dorset Schools Athletic Association Championships at Kings Park, Bournemouth.

The area's two outstanding girl athletes, Serita Shone and Jemma Tewkesbury, displayed their talent with top class performances.

Shone, a schools' international multi-eventer from Thomas Hardye School, not only set a new personal best in the senior 100m hurdles, but her time of 14.8s was a new championship best performance.

Shone also won the senior girls' long jump with a national entry standard of 5.47m.

Javelin star Tewkesbury, of Wey Valley School, also set a new personal best in the inter-girls' event with an enormous 40.92m throw, nearly three metres beyond the Schools' national standard.

Rising star Megan Tuck, of Sir John Colfox School, won the inter girls' discus with a throw of 29.15m.

She was permitted an entry in the hammer as well where she demonstrated her skill with a 31.60m throw.

Daryanne Ryan (All Saints' School) won the inter-girls' 80m hurdles in fine style with a national schools standard time of 12.1secs.

Other champions from the South and West were Andrew Mapstone of Beaminster School, who won the senior 400m in 50.3secs; Hannah Jeanes (Thomas Hardye) took the senior 800m in 2:21.7 and Abi Davies (Thomas Hardye), claimed the inter-high jump with 1.45m.

Chloe Desmond (Budmouth School) won the inter-triple jump with 9.96m and Caroline Goode (St Mary's School, Puddletown) took the Year 7 100m in 14.2secs.

Thomas Hardye's Ellie Burn recorded a county standard distance of 10.30m in taking third place in the senior triple jump and was close to county standard with her long jump of 4.81m, which also earned a third place.

In the 4x100m relays, the junior boys ran well to claim the championship in 54.8secs.

The year 7 girls clocked 61.9secs in a fast walk-over and the junior girls fought hard to place third in 55.3secs.

The senior girls were only 0.1secs off the championship best performance in a highly competitive race, which they won in 50.7secs.

The 24 per cent tally of first places by the South and West team reflects well the talent of the area's young people.