HUNDREDS of budding athletes from 12 schools, cheered on by a vocal support, descended upon Woodside Stadium in Garston, Watford, on Tuesday, June 25 for the annual St Albans and District Athletics Championships.

Glorious sunshine set the tone for a day of top-quality athletics although the star of the show was undoubtedly Chris McCabe of St Columba's College who set a new district record in the shot.

The year nine pupil who lives in Watford recorded a throw of 13.98 metres to land the title in one of the most memorable performances at the Games for years.

Beaumont School, of Oakwood Drive in St Albans, won the overall combined girls and boys title well ahead of nearest challengers, Harpenden's St Georges School. Sandringham School, in the Ridgeway, St Albans, finished third.

In fact, Beaumonts School came close to completing a clean sweep of trophies after narrowly being pipped into second place in the Overall Girls and Overall Boys' championships. St Albans School for Girls won the girls title, with St Albans High finishing third.

In the Boys' title, St Columba's College took the overall title while St Georges School finished third.

However, St Georges did have some success in the individual Year events, taking the Year Nine Girls' title.

St Albans School for Girls and St Albans High picked up the Year Eight Girls and Year Seven Girls honours respectively but Sandringham School dominated the Year Ten's, taking both the boys and girls titles.

St Columba's added to their earlier success with comfortable victory in the Year Seven Boys, Year Eight Boys and Year Nine Boys categories.

June 27, 2002 11:30