Kennet’s Athletics Festival a huge success as local athletes show their skills

Team Kennet teamed up with West Berkshire School Sports Network to host the annual West Berkshire Quadkids Athletics Festival over the weekend at Park House School.

The event, now in its 15th year, saw over 500 youngsters take part across four events – a sprint, a distance run, a vortex throw and a standing long jump.

In the Year 3-4 boys competition, just six points separated the top three individuals, with Luca Brown from St Gabriel’s winning with 190 points.

Brown finished a single point clear of John Rankin’s Jack Cripps, while Pip Maclennan of Burghclere was third with 184 points.

In the girls’ event, Orlagh Stratford from St Nicolas School was crowned champion with 183 points.

John Rankin’s Sophia Mahoney was runner-up with 177 points while Alica Stratford, also of St Nicolas, was third with 160 points.

The team placings couldn’t have been much closer, with John Rankin triumphant with 1251, edging out Francis Bailey finishing second with 1245 points and St Nicolas in third with 1233.

A great individual effort from John Rankin’s Alex Rowe saw him win the Year 5-6 boys race with 242 points, ahead of runner-up Will Darling of Cold Ash with 236 and Francis Baily’s Malachi Stephenson, who was third with 229.

Tilly Clare made it a double for John Rankin, winning the Year 5-6 girls race with 216 points.

Alice Kirby was second with 201 while Fir Tree’s Quinn Joyce was third with 199.

Unsurprisingly, John Rankin were comfortable winners of the team award with 1646 points, well ahead of runners-up Falkland with 1380 and third placed John Rankin B with 1344.