MID-Cheshire College shot putter William Lowndes won a silver medal at the English Schools Championships at Gateshead.

Lowndes, who lives at Tarporley and is a former member of Vale Royal Athletic Club, turned in a best personal best performance of 15.59m, but incredibly, was still beaten by 1.64m by Kieran Kelly, of Wiltshire.

But there were no other medals from the Mid Cheshire contingent in the county squad - though three of them played a part in a small controversy in the relay - and there were heartbreaking near misses for sprinter Morgan Brown and middle distance runner Becky Ellis.

Brown (St Nicholas RC High) was fourth in the final of the junior 200m - 11/100ths away from the bronze medals and another 1/100th of a second away from silver.

The Winnington prospect, another Vale Royal member, qualified second in her heat and improved that time of 25.6secs to 25.45 in the final.

Junior international Becky Ellis, who lives at Wincham and attends South Cheshire College, was fifth in the senior 1500m final, in 4:39.03, some eight seconds off the pace and a little slower than her third-placed time in the heats.

Hayley Jones, another who is coached by Vale Royal, had no more luck in the inters 100m. She attends school at Crewe and won her heat in 12.13, was second in the semi-finals in 12.32 and fourth in the final in 12.34.

Winsford-based Laura Lambert (Hartford) got through her first heat in the inters 800m in a seventh placed 2:16.61 and was seventh in the semis and bowed out.

Moorhouse, Lambert and Jones were all in the Cheshire relay team which was disqualified for a hand-over fault.

Hannah Hewittson (Verdin) was a commendable ninth in the junior long jump in 4.97m, 4cms short of her personal best. The event was won in 5.48m.

Schoolmate Lee Davenport was second in his heat and then seventh in the second round (2:12.35) in the junior 800m; James Griffiths (St Nicholas) was fourth in his inters 800m heat in 2:02.87 and the first three qualified and Hartford's Tom Stringer did not reach the 400m hurdles final after he finished fifth in his heat in 58.61.

WEAVERHAM High School's boys athletics team retained the Cheshire Cup, which is contested by the top eight schools in the county. They beat hosts Helsby High to first place.

Coach Johnnie Goodall said: 'To win the trophy for the second year running is a great achievement for the boys. It shows we have strength in depth and are not dependent on one or two individuals, but on a whole team performance.'

HARTFORD High saw five school records tumble - two to one person - on sports day.

Sam Walters set new marks in the Year 10 100m and triple jump. Other record breakers were Chris Yearsley Year 7 100m; Bud Skinkis Year 7 discus and Uke Kraja Year 10 shot.

Presented with medals for outstanding performances were: 7 - Kirsty Farrow, Kathey Stringer, Yearsley; 8 - Sarah Blanthorn, Michael Sutton, Nicola Hill; 9 - Rebecca Ditchfield, Gareth Evans; 10 - Laura Lambert, Sarah Clarke, Walters and Kraja.