The squad of more than 40 coped well with the higher standard of competition and their success was helped tremendously by the girls' and boys' under-17s.

Charlie Roe improved his own personal best with a clearance of 1.75m to win the high jump, with Jack Aird backing up well to win the B string with 1.65.

Richard Ford, Jazz Matthews and Luke Scott picked up useful points in competitive sprints, with Scott running a personal best of 24.5sec to win the 200m.

Harry Richardson was just edged out in the 800m in spite of a new best time of 2.05, but had a convincing win in the 1,500m.

George Grainger and James Tasker notched up second places in the triple jump, Grainger losing out on countback after setting a new personal best of 11.79.

In the girls' under-17s, Ellie Purvis and Sophie Millett notched the only A string wins of the day in the 3,000m and pole vault, but the squad won their section.

Jess McKenzie was near her best in the 300m and 800m, with Millett scoring near-maximum points in the B string in both events.

Coco Allingham and Renae Brown showed good sprinting form and were supported well by Katie Johnson, second in the 1,500m, and Marcia Miles, who set a personal best of 9.24 in the triple jump.

Phoebe Adams battled against the heat in the 3,000m, then had enough energy for useful points in the throws.

In the under-15 age group, an inexperienced boys' team gained valuable experience for the season.

In the throws, there were unexpected points from Jack Upton, Henry Bowles, Johnny Mitchell and Ollie Pickersgill.

Jamie Moore scored the only win with a confident display in the 1,500m and personal best of 2.10 in the pole vault, with Charlie Stubbings running well in the 1,500m for the B string.

Pickersgill claimed second in the 800m, while Sam West, Richene Brown and Michael Nunn picked up points in he sprints and long jump.

In the girls' under-15s, a small squad enjoyed nine individual wins.
Katie Hardcastle set the tone in the 100m, 200m and long jump, well supported by Emma Napper.

Katrina Richards-White won with a brave 1,500m run, while twin sister Bryony and Jess Collino combined well in the discus and javelin.

The under-13s added 65 points to the score thanks to Freddy Symonds, James Mckenzie, Jean-Luc Kondabeka and Jacob West among the boys and Felicity Burton, Chloe Burrows, Georgina Osborn Harriet Field, Zoe Nunn and Georgia Miles in the girls' line-up.

* In next week's Observer: More on the young athletes squad, and news from the Sussex track and field championships and the West Sussex West area schools championships.