ED O’Hara produced a terrific display to lead Oxfordshire to team silver in the ESAA English Schools’ Combined Events Championships at Stoke-on-Trent, writes RUSSELL SMITH The youngster from Larkmead School, Abingdon, finished fourth in the intermediate boys’ octathlon with personal bests in seven of the eight events for 4,692 points.

His best-ever score also earned him a call-up to represent England in an international against the other home nations in Glasgow in December.

With the top three headed by London’s gold medallist, Blade Ashby, well clear and only four England places up for grabs, O’Hara dug deep to hold on to fourth spot in the closing 1500m at the Northwood Stadium.

It spearheaded Oxfordshire’s charge to second place with Kent taking team gold.

O’Hara was well supported by Abingdon School’s Peter Barnshaw, who finished 11th, and Oxford and Cherwell Valley College’s Marcus Woodington in 15th.

Barnshaw posted three personal bests in the javelin, 100m hurdles and 1500m for 4,458 points.

And Woodington also notched a hat-trick of personal bests – in the 400m, 1500m and high jump – for a personal best points tally of 4,196.

Jackson Curtis (Cokethorpe, Witney) found the going tough in the senior boys’ decathlon, finishing 21st.

However, he recorded four personal bests – in the 100m, high jump, 400m and 110m hurdles – for a personal best 4,999 points.