Young members of Team Upton are celebrating after the junior school won the Year 3 and 4 Thanet Athletics Championships.

They fought opposition from school squads from around the area in the three-hour sports hall athletics competition held at Ursuline College in Westgate.

The event, organised by Thanet Athletics Club, Thanet PasSport (Thanet Primary Association for School Sport) and the district’s school games organiser, featured the maximum 12 local schools competing for the title.

With strict limits on how many events an athlete could enter and an array of both track and field events, the competition had something for everyone and was an exciting and fiercely-contested event.

Deputy Head of School Dave Walker assessed the team’s winning performances. He said: “Upton began well with Summer H, Edith H, Mariam J and Chloe H winning the girls obstacle relay, while the team of Jack L, Theo W, Rudy W and Mikey B won the boys relay.

“This began a phase that would see Upton winning 10 out of the 12 running events. Speedsters Charlie H and Orlando W then won both the 1×1 and 2×2 lap boys sprint relays, as did Celeste S and Esme G in the girls’ event.

“Matthew P and Charlie H won the boys hurdles relay, while Shona H and Ivy J won the girls hurdles. In the 4×1 girls sprint relay, Ivy J; Tess L; Chloe F and Shona H showed that time practising rely change-overs had been worthwhile as they took the win, while the boys team of Matthew P, Charlie M, Mikey B and Fraser P produced  a dramatic last leg to victory.

“With only half the points awarded on the track, the field events were equally important and exceptionally close. New to the team, both Freddie F and Fiona Z did well, while Jude A, Fraser P and Rudy W produced strong javelin throws alongside solid team performances in the five-strides and speed bounce.

“At the end of a morning of excellent athletics, Upton finished ahead of St Saviour’s in second, with St Peter’s taking third.”

Head of School Darci Arthur congratulated the winning team. She added: “Praise and thanks go to all our staff and families for the supporting and encouraging our sports performers at every level of ability.

“PE and games and competitive sports are an important part of our curriculum and after school activities and we encourage all children to enjoy these opportunities at the level that suits them best.”

In September Upton received the Gold School Games Mark that recognises excellence in the commitment to the development of competition across their school and into the community.