Elite young athletic stars set the bar high at competition

A YOUNG athlete set the bar high for his teammates in an impressive display of talent on the track and in the field.

At just 14 Northallerton School and College student Saul Bamber-Lister cleared 1.65m, a height that is expected to bring him to the attention of the English Schools Championship officials.

“This puts him among the best in the country,” said head of PE Sandra Horner. “He isn’t a member of a club and has achieved this by competing and being coached at school. If he trained he would be even more amazing.”

Saul was among a number of school and college athletes who qualified to take part in the North Yorkshire Athletics Championships, representing Hambleton and Richmondshire, staged in a new athletics stadium in York.

Junior and senior boys and girls took part in a variety of disciplines also performing well in javelin, hurdles, discus, shot, and long jump.

The squad comprised Jess Ayre, Jack Stapley, Summer Marshall, Sophi Taylor, Kian Whiting, Ewan Bell, Saul Bamber-Lister, Issy Meeks, Abi Sykes, Alice Fyfe, Marika Blyth, Holly Cameron, Thea Crocker, Ben Fenwick, Elizabeth Huckle, Zac Hartley and Chloe Hunt.

PE teacher Anna Harvey said: “It was a fantastic experience competing at the new facility and they all really rose to the challenge. It was the first time juniors and seniors have competed together since we became one school.”