Four students have been selected to represent North Yorkshire at a national championship.
Three students from Ripon Grammar School will compete at the English Schools’ Track and Field Championships in Birmingham on July 10 and 11, following a season of standout performances.
The students, Pip Robinson, Holly Nash, and Beth Takieddine, secured their places through strong showings throughout the season.
Simon Bordewich was also selected for the North Yorkshire squad but has had to withdraw due to injury.
Director of sport Adam Milner said: "Every one of these athletes has performed brilliantly, not only at county level but also against some of the strongest competition in the region.
"Their success is even more impressive given the variety of disciplines they compete in, from sprinting and hurdles to pole vault and middle distance running."
The students are among just 40 athletes chosen to represent the county, earning selection through their performances at both the North Yorkshire Schools Championships and the Inter-Counties Championships.
Their achievements, alongside fellow Ripon Grammar athlete Ollie Deavin, cap off a successful summer for the school’s athletics programme.
At the North Yorkshire Schools Championships in York, Ripon Grammar School athletes claimed five county titles.
Ms Nash won the 400m hurdles, Mr Bordewich took first place in the 400m, Ms Takieddine secured both the 100m and 200m titles, Mr Deavin won the 3,000m, and Ms Robinson took the pole vault title while equalling the championship record.
Their dominance continued at the Inter-Counties Championships in Middlesbrough, where Ripon Grammar’s athletes helped North Yorkshire finish second behind Northumberland Schools.
Ms Robinson won the junior girls’ pole vault, Ms Nash placed fourth in the senior girls’ 400m hurdles, Ms Takieddine earned bronze in both the intermediate girls’ 100m and 200m, and Mr Deavin finished second in the senior boys’ 3,000m.
Mr Milner said it was a "tremendous achievement" for a relatively small school.
He said: "These students are fantastic ambassadors for RGS.
"They balance demanding training schedules with their studies and consistently demonstrate determination, humility, and a desire to keep improving.
"We look forward to cheering them on at English Schools and seeing what they achieve next."
Sixteen-year-old Ms Nash, from Ripon, said: "I started athletics in Year 7 as a cross-country and long-distance runner.
"Then in Year 9, I moved to City of York Athletics Club and started to take hurdles and combined events seriously."
Looking ahead, she has set ambitious targets, adding: "I would love to medal at English Schools and aim to qualify to represent England in the next few years.
"They are big dreams but not out of reach."
Fourteen-year-old Ms Robinson has quickly established herself among the country’s top young pole vaulters, despite taking up the event just two years ago.
A member of Harrogate Harriers, she cleared 2.80m at the North East Youth Development League in Shildon.
This surpassed the 2.70m qualification mark for the English Schools’ Championships and placed her joint seventh in the UK rankings for her age group.
Away from athletics, Ms Robinson stays active through dance, football, high jump, and hammer throw.
Ms Takieddine has also stood out this season, becoming a double county champion and earning two bronze medals at the Inter-Counties.
Mr Bordewich, despite being sidelined by injury, is already a two-time national champion.
The sixteen-year-old from Burton Leonard previously won the English Schools 300m title and claimed his second national title earlier this year at the England Athletics Indoor National Championships.
He said: "I hope to be selected to run for England at international championships."
Mr Deavin, though not selected for the English Schools competition, also enjoyed a strong season.
The seventeen-year-old from Knaresborough only began middle-distance running two years ago and has already won county gold and Inter-Counties silver in the 3,000m.
A member of Harrogate Harriers, he said: "I want to take this sport as far as my limits will allow and ultimately want a Great Britain vest and to run professionally, even for a short time."
Ripon Grammar School continues to support and develop rising talent across a range of both academic and sporting disciplines.
Share