RORY Howorth is the new English Schools’ champion after a stunning success in the Combined Events Championships in Bedford, writes KEVIN FAHEY.

The 16-year-old St Augustine’s Catholic College student, from Hilperton, set four outright personal bests and ran his fastest 400m outdoors to score a total of 5,481 points for the eight events to finish 500 points clear of runner-up Jami Schlueter, of Somerset.

To round off a great weekend for Wiltshire athletes at the two-day event, Staverton athlete Jenna Blundell won a surprise bronze in the senior girls’ heptathlon to provide further evidence that she is well and truly back from her injury problems.

Howorth has had his problem, too, this summer with a niggling hamstring injury so he admitted afterwards that he hadn’t dare dream of lifting his first national title.

“I have had an up and down season really as I started well but then hit some injury problems and that put me back,” said Howorth.

“The comeback as tricky and all I was hoping for this weekend was to try and make the podium and win another England vest for the international this winter.

“The competition as neck and neck for most of the two days until I managed to open a big lead by the finish, which was way better than I expected.

“I am so happy to win my first national title and get the chance to compete for England again in Glasgow, in November.”

While the two days ended on a high note Howorth revealed how close he came to a disaster as in the opening event, the long jump, he fouled his first two efforts and was left with just one more jump to register a legal mark – or risk scoring no points and dropping straight out of medal contention at the outset.

“The long jump was shaky and just a little nerve-wracking as I lined up for my third attempt,” added Howorth.

“I held back a little with that last attempt but still gave it a go and there was a big sigh of relief when the white flag was raised and the jump was measured at 6.60m, which was a personal best.”

That put Howorth third in the competition and by the end of day one he had taken the lead after another PB of 43.41m in the javelin and then running his quickest 400m outdoors with a time of 51.29secs.

“I was really happy with day one and knew I had a good chance of winning the title after that,” said Howorth.

“It gave me a lot of confidence going into Sunday because I knew I was in a great position.”

If his rivals hoped Howorth would slip up he quickly disappointed them with a PB of 14.35secs in the 100m hurdles followed by another PB of 1.86m in the high jump. That was followed by a solid shot of 13.05 before lining up for the 1500m finale, an event in which Howorth is well nigh unbeatable due to his running background.

Howorth’s total points tally of 5,481 not only put him top of the UK Rankings but also lifted him to seventh on the All-Time List.

“Rory is such a brilliant all-rounder and that was an amazing achievement,” said coach Julie Alexander. “Jenna was outstanding too.”

The 16-year-old fellow Team Bath athlete broke the landmark 5,000 points barrier for the first time with a score of 5,014pts which included four outright personal bests while she equalled a fifth.

Blundell opened up with PBs in the 100m hurdles (14.27secs) and the high jump (1.68m) to lead the competition but dropped to third after a below-par shot of 8.83m. She then ended day one by equalling her PB of 25.62secs in the 200m.

Day two opened spectacularly as she smashed her PB in the long jump with a leap of 5.89m, smashing her previous best of 5.35m. That briefly put her back into the lead before the javelin (26.29m) dropped her to third and that’s where she stayed after another PB in the 800m (2:26.58).

“I have never won an English Schools’ medal before so I am delighted,” said Blundell.

“Winning the bronze medal feels very special especially having only done one heptathlon this summer.”

With her throws well below the standard of her main rivals coach Alexander says Blundell is in a great position to improve in 2019.

“To score over 5000 points when her throws are pretty terrible really shows just how much potential Jenna has and next summer she can be challenging to go to the World Junior Championships,” added Alexander.

Blundell also led the Avon squad – she is at college in north Bristol – to the team silver medals with excellent support from Corsham’s Rebecca Ousby and Renee Jelf, of Bath.

Also in action at Bedford was Devizes School student Will Scammell as he finished 21st.

Inter boys’ octathlon: 1 Rory Howorth (Wiltshire) 5481points; 2 Jami Schlueter (Somerset) 4,981; 3 Brad Jenvey (Hants) 4891.

21 Will Scammell (Wilts) 4176 (LJ: 5.72m; Discus: 28.66m; Javelin: 32.78m; 400:53.51; 100H: 14.51secs; HJ: 1.65m; Shot: 11.30m; 1500: 5:29.77).

Senior girls heptathlon: 1 Natasha Smith (Glos) 5123pts; 2 Emily Race (Notts) 5055; 3 Jenna Blundell (Avon) 5014 (100H: 14.27; HJ: 1.68; Shot: 8.83; 200m: 26.52; LJ: 5.89; Jav: 26.29; 800: 2:26.58). 14 Rebecca Ousby 3565pts (18.18secs; 1.50m; 8.95m; 26.89secs; 4.70m; 10.75m; 2:30.00); 25 Renee Jelf (Avon) 2882pts (19.89secs; 1.56m; 6.31m; 29.20secs; 4.45m; 11.07m; 2:45.55).

Teams: 1 Somerset 11,501pts; 2 Avon 11,461