IT was another successful year for North Somerset’s Athletic Academy, culminating with a sportshall athletics sports day, certificates for all athletes, courtesy of The Club at Cadbury House and an athlete of the year award, also sponsored by The Club.

IT was another successful year for North Somerset’s Athletic Academy, culminating with a sportshall athletics sports day, certificates for all athletes, courtesy of The Club at Cadbury House and an athlete of the year award, also sponsored by The Club.

This year’s major award went to talented all-rounder Ada’ora Chigbo from Bristol Grammar School. The 11-year-old won South West medals in sportshall and on the track, courtesy of her hurdling and long jumping.

The Academy sports day saw her win five of the nine gold medals up for grabs and she is a major part of the under-13 girls team who head to Birmingham in three weeks time hoping to become UK champions.

For the first time since the competition started in 1985, a single county won all six age/sex categories at the South West Sportshall Championships.

Avon (made up of Bath & North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Bristol and North Somerset) convincingly won the under-11 competition at UWE recently to make history.

Head coach Chris Millard said: “Of the athletes representing the county, over half are part of the North Somerset Athletics Academy, testament to the work being carried out with talented enthusiastic children in the area. I predict that within three years we will see four or five of our current squad represent their countries across a range of events.”

The successful under-11 team consisted of Caroline Walder, Ellie Shail, Sophie Parker and Harriet Emery (Flax Bourton), Beth Barzotelli (Mary Elton), Ella Murray and Abi Roach (St Andrews), Emma Warinton (Bristol Grammar), Jessie Dadds (Uphill), Josh Crummack (Mead Vale), Lucas Mortimer (Yatton), Ben Cureton (Portishead), Patrick Haskins (St Nichs), Joseph Freake (Sandford) and Euan Campbell (Churchill)

NSAA are hosting their fifth cross-country challenge at Churchill on April 2 from 1-3pm. Teams are made up of four young athletes and compete over manageable distances.

Anyone from age seven-16 is welcome, providing they either school or live in North Somerset. Fancy Dress is welcomed to ensure the fun tone of the event is maintained. Anyone interested in more info can contact Chris on chrisbtg@blueyonder.co.uk