ATHLETICS: Oxfordshire athletes shone at the Midland Schools Combined Event Championships with a host of medals and six reaching the national finals.

Ed O'Hara (Larkmead) was the stand-out performer at Milton Keynes, claiming gold in the junior boys' pentathlon.

Peter Barnshaw (Abingdon) bagged silver in the same event, and with Marcus Woodrington (Wheatley Park) finishing seventh, Oxon won the team event by over 500 points.

Joining O'Hara, Barnshaw and the junior team at September's national finals in Birmingham will be Hayley Luke (Gosford Hill), Emily Carstairs (Lord Williams) and Sian Huxtable (Gillotts).

O'Hara pipped Branshaw by 74 points after recording 12.2secs in the 80m hurdles, 10.71m in the shot, 5.63m in the long jump, 1.60m in the high jump and 2.23.1 in the 800m.

Barnshaw was seventh following the second event, but secured the silver by five points after clocking 2.17.5 in the 800m.

Oxfordshire team captain Luke secured bronze in the senior girls' heptathlon with her seven events, including a season's best of 1.60m in the high jump.

Carstairs also achieved a bronze medal in the junior girls' pentathlon after coming from seventh to third in the final event, recording 2.39.6 in the 800m.

Huxtable finished fifth after some consistent displays in the intermediate girls' heptathlon.

Other Oxon athletes competing were Connie McMillan (North Oxfordshire Academy) and Lily Cartwright (Burford), who finished 15th and 20th respectively in the junior girls' pentathlon.

West Kidlington won the Kidlington Schools' Sport Partnership Year 6 Athletics Festival at Gosford Hill.

Team events included 75m, 150m and 600m races, plus speed bounce and standing long jump.

Edward Feild finished second, ahead of North Kidlington and St Thomas More.

The mini marathon was won by West Kidlington's Jo Birchall followed by Kieran Kelly, Tom Anstice and Brian Muir (all West Kidlington) Archie Coyne (St Thomas More).