Dunblane at the Double
Dunblane HS became the first Scottish outfit in 11 years, and only the second ever to win the British Schools Championship on a banner day for local youngsters at Hopetoun House, Abercorn.
The British Schools only comes north of the border once in a generation, and it's essential to have an array of talent across the age classes. Dunblane is unique in the schools system in that their leader. Peter Owen, is still a pupil, although he's also a fully-qualified coach, and has been working hard on a weekly basis with a group of more than 20 athletes.
Local athletes made their mark early in the younger girls classes, where they won all four age classes from Y5 to Y8 (the championship is organised on English school year-classes). Iona Harrison won in Y5 for Queensferry PS (12.37), and Annie Short is the latest star from Newton PS to taste podium success, victorious in Y6 in 13.38.
The Y7 class saw three local youngsters reinstated to the primary ranks, on age, and Rose Martin (Linlithgow Academy) won in 12.43 from Dunblane HS's Sophie Edward (13.22) with Sara Harrison (Queensferry HS) 3rd in 19.38. The quadruple was completed by Hannah Inman (Dunblane HS) who won Y8 in 15.33.
The older classes brought no less success, as Lucas Baikie (Dunblane HS) was 2nd in Y9 (15.44) and Fraser Cheyne (Dunblane HS) captured the fifth local win of the day in Y10 (18.35).
There were three Y12 medals, as Alexander Hunt (17.16) held off Matthew Inman (19.27) for a Dunblane silver-bronze double, and Hanna Brindley (Linlithgow Academy) took the bronze in her class in 24.32. Fittingly, the final Dunblane scorer of the day was Peter himself, who was 2nd in Y13 in 26.22.
The best nine scores across the classes determine the overall champion, and Dunblane's seven medals gave them a clear advantage, but 4th places for Callum Sweenie (Y7) and Isla Cheyne (Y12) were the icing on the gingerbread.
There was additional local joy for Dunblane PS, who were 3rd in the Primary class with a young team, as the two schools ahead of them were both able to drop scores, but Dunblane had to count all four of theirs for the day. Scottish champions Newton PS was 5th, with only three entries, and could have had a buzz at the championship if they had had a 4th runner.
