Sainsbury's 2015 School Games
Manchester 3-6 September
Records broken and international stars return on day two of Sainsbury's 2015 School Games
5 September 2015, 11:17
Scotland sprinter and European double gold medallist Maria Lyle marked her Sainsbury's 2015 School Games debut in style, while double Paralympic champion Hannah Cockcroft also took to the track in an action-packed day two in Manchester.
Maria got the first full day off in the best possible style, winning the girl's ambulant 100m in 14.50 seconds before clocking 30.01 to add the 200m ambulant title at the Regional Athletics Centre. The 15-year-old, who took two golds at last year's IPC European Athletics Championships, insists that Sainsbury's 2015 School Games gold ranks right up there with her international successes.
"To win two golds at the Sainsbury's 2015 School Games is a great achievement for me, it's my first time competing and I'll always have fond memories of this day," said the East Lothian runner.
"It's a great atmosphere at the Games. It gives people the experience of competing in big competitions."
Maria was one of 300 students from seven teams contesting the athletics at this year's event, supported by the National Lottery funding from Sport England and delivered by the Youth Sport Trust.
There were a number of impressive performances including four Championship records - England North West's hammer champion Katie Lambert throwing 63.08m, England South East's James Whiteaker recording 73.45m in the javelin, long jumper Holly Mills of England South West leaping 5.95m and Jake Norris extending his own record to 70.65m in the boys hammer.
Jake Norris and Holly Mills' victories helped England South West top the overall team ranking, while fans were also treated to an appearance by guest racer Hannah Cockcroft who was competing in the 100m and 800m wheelchair events as a warm up for 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships Doha. These were won by Scotland students Shelby Watson and Samantha Kinghorn respectively.
"I started my career here so this has been like a step back in time racing here again," said Cockroft.
"Everyone has been so welcoming and I've really enjoyed it. I've always said the next Paralympic and Olympic champions are on display here."
At the Bolton Arena, Truro fencer Rebecca Puckey was just one of those celebrating after getting the better of fellow England teammate Kasjan Paszkowski to take gold in the mixed wheelchair fencing foil final.
In the gymnastics, Jamie Lewis put in a superb performance to help England clinch team gold, earning the individual all-around title in the process, as Wales scooped the women's team title with new all-around champion Latalia Bevan leading the way.
Cycling also got underway and England North East's Hamish Turnbull produced a blistering performance to win the boys one lap time trial at the National Cycling Centre.
The 16-year-old clocked an incredible 18.685 seconds to push seven-time Sainsbury's School Games gold medallist Fred Wright into second - laying to rest the demons of 12 months ago.
"It feels very, very good to win gold at the Sainsbury's 2015 School Games because I came really close last year, coming away with two silvers," said Hamish Turnbull. "Those silver medals really pushed me to train at a higher standard."
England South East's Fred Wright bounced back to clinch his seventh Sainsbury's School Games gold in the boys elimination race while there was double celebration for Lauren Booth who triumphed in the para one lap time trial and para 500m time trial.
Seven titles were handed out at the judo with Northern Ireland's James Reid triumphing in the boys over-81kg competition, Scotland's Scott Thomson in the under-60kg and England's Daniel Holt in the under-50kg.
And in the women's competitions, Scotland under-48kg judoka Yasmin Gordon prevented a clean sweep of English female titles with Christina Kelsall (under-52kg), Amy Platten (under-44kg) and Sophie Roots (under-70kg) the other winners.
Finally Friday also saw a busy day of sporting team action as the hockey boys and girls competition continued apace while the rugby sevens, table tennis, volleyball, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair tennis competitions got underway.
If you don't want to miss out on any of the action at the Sainsbury's 2015 School Games you can watch all of the sports live on our website here.
"To win two golds at the Sainsbury's 2015 School Games is a great achievement for me, it's my first time competing and I'll always have fond memories of this day," said the East Lothian runner.
"It's a great atmosphere at the Games. It gives people the experience of competing in big competitions."
Maria was one of 300 students from seven teams contesting the athletics at this year's event, supported by the National Lottery funding from Sport England and delivered by the Youth Sport Trust.
There were a number of impressive performances including four Championship records - England North West's hammer champion Katie Lambert throwing 63.08m, England South East's James Whiteaker recording 73.45m in the javelin, long jumper Holly Mills of England South West leaping 5.95m and Jake Norris extending his own record to 70.65m in the boys hammer.
Jake Norris and Holly Mills' victories helped England South West top the overall team ranking, while fans were also treated to an appearance by guest racer Hannah Cockcroft who was competing in the 100m and 800m wheelchair events as a warm up for 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships Doha. These were won by Scotland students Shelby Watson and Samantha Kinghorn respectively.
"I started my career here so this has been like a step back in time racing here again," said Cockroft.
"Everyone has been so welcoming and I've really enjoyed it. I've always said the next Paralympic and Olympic champions are on display here."
At the Bolton Arena, Truro fencer Rebecca Puckey was just one of those celebrating after getting the better of fellow England teammate Kasjan Paszkowski to take gold in the mixed wheelchair fencing foil final.
In the gymnastics, Jamie Lewis put in a superb performance to help England clinch team gold, earning the individual all-around title in the process, as Wales scooped the women's team title with new all-around champion Latalia Bevan leading the way.
Cycling also got underway and England North East's Hamish Turnbull produced a blistering performance to win the boys one lap time trial at the National Cycling Centre.
The 16-year-old clocked an incredible 18.685 seconds to push seven-time Sainsbury's School Games gold medallist Fred Wright into second - laying to rest the demons of 12 months ago.
"It feels very, very good to win gold at the Sainsbury's 2015 School Games because I came really close last year, coming away with two silvers," said Hamish Turnbull. "Those silver medals really pushed me to train at a higher standard."
England South East's Fred Wright bounced back to clinch his seventh Sainsbury's School Games gold in the boys elimination race while there was double celebration for Lauren Booth who triumphed in the para one lap time trial and para 500m time trial.
Seven titles were handed out at the judo with Northern Ireland's James Reid triumphing in the boys over-81kg competition, Scotland's Scott Thomson in the under-60kg and England's Daniel Holt in the under-50kg.
And in the women's competitions, Scotland under-48kg judoka Yasmin Gordon prevented a clean sweep of English female titles with Christina Kelsall (under-52kg), Amy Platten (under-44kg) and Sophie Roots (under-70kg) the other winners.
Finally Friday also saw a busy day of sporting team action as the hockey boys and girls competition continued apace while the rugby sevens, table tennis, volleyball, wheelchair basketball and wheelchair tennis competitions got underway.
If you don't want to miss out on any of the action at the Sainsbury's 2015 School Games you can watch all of the sports live on our website here.
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