BEN Claridge is on cloud nine after winning 400m gold at the English Schools’ Track & Field Championships.

The Blewbury teenager won the senior boys (under 19) title for the first time at the Gateshead International Stadium.

Claridge, 18, who has just finished his A-Levels at King Alfred’s Academy, Wantage, won his first round heat, before storming to victory in the final in 47.83secs.

But the White Horse Harrier, who is fifth in the under 20 national rankings, only believed he could win the title after Owen Richardson, from Hampshire, was disqualified in his heat.

“It feels weird (to be champion),” said Claridge, who also captained the Oxfordshire boys team for a second successive year.

“It is a good feeling, but quite a shock.

“I went in with top three expectations and then the potential favourite was disqualified.

“After that I had it in my head that I wanted to win it.”

Banbury’s Seb Hartwell produced a thrilling sprint finish to take bronze in the intermediate (U17) 400m.

The Warriner School pupil, 16, set a personal best of 49.85 and has risen to eighth in the under 17 national rankings.

Radley’s Matthew Coleman came eighth in the same event in 51.29.

First year under 19, Michael Dawes, set a Banbury club record with his throw of 53.23m for tenth in the senior hammer.

In the girls competition, Banbury’s Emily Thompson enjoyed a successful weekend in the inter 800m, pipping Khahisa Mhlanga to silver by just 0.6secs.

As a result, Thompson was selected to represent England in the under 17 home international against Ireland, Scotland and Wales at Ashford this weekend.

Zoe Pollock, who competed for Buckinghamshire, broke another Banbury club record by booking her place in the inter 200m final in 25.11, before finishing eighth.

Amy Herrington, a member of Windsor Slough Eton & Hounslow, also competed for Oxon, and took silver in the hammer.

RESULTS

ENGLISH SCHOOLS’ TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Tonkin Cup (Overall team): 6 Oxon 71pts.

Boys – Senior – 100m – Heat 1: 1 Z Smith (Whh) 11.05. Heat 4: 3 M Johnson (Rad) 10.99. Round 2 – Heat 2: 3 M Johnson (Rad) 10.95. Heat 3: 5 Z Smith (Whh) 11.06. 400m – Heat 1: 1 B Claridge (Whh) 47.97. Final: 1 B Claridge (Whh) 47.83. Ernest Campion Trophy (team): 9 Oxon 12pts.

Intermediate – 400m – Heat 1: 1 S Hartwell (Ban) 51.34. Heat 2: 2 M Coleman (Rad) 50.80. Final: 3 S Hartwell (Ban) 49.85, 8 M Coleman (Rad) 51.29. 800m – Heat 2: 3 W Crisp (Swh) 1.55.38. Final: 5 W Crisp (Swh) 1.54.70. 100m hurdles – Heat 1: 7 O Stacey (Rad) 13.84. 400m relay – Heat 2: 4 Oxon 45.72. Javelin – Final: 10 M Bryce (Wit) 48.71. Rotary Shield (team): 6 Oxon 16pts.

Junior – Discus – Final: 8 A Byles (Oxf) 34.27. Javelin – Final: 8 D Kelly (Abn) 45.83, 17 S Richardson (Abn) 40.94. Watford Council Trophy (team): 8 Oxon 4pts.

Girls – Senior – 100m – Heat 3: 6 T Cox (Abn) 12.60. 100m hurdles – Heat 2: 2 A Hopkins (Rad) 14.46. Final: 6 A Hopkins (Rad) 14.50. Discus – Final: 11 L Chantler Edmond (Rad) 31.30. Hammer – Round 1 – Pool A: 1 A Herrington (Win) 51.55. Final: 2 A Herrington (Win) 54.89. CF Gosling Trophy (team): 7 Oxon 14pts.

Intermediate – 100m – Heat 2: 3 A Anson (Ban) 12.38. Semi-final A: 7 A Anson (Ban) 12.49. 200m – Final: 8 Z Pollock (Ban) 25.71. 300m – Heat 2: 5 E Turner (Oxf) 41.39. 800m – Heat 1: 1 E Thompson (Ban) 2.14.89. Final: 2 E Thompson (Ban) 2.09.40. 80m hurdles – Heat 1: 2 J O’Dowda (Oxf) 11.45. Final: 8 J O’Dowda (Oxf) 12.29. 4x100m – Heat 2: 2 Oxon 49.06. Final: 5 Oxon 48.75. High jump – Final: 8 K Hetherington (Oxf) 1.65. Shot – Round 1 – Pool A: 10 P Chantler Edmond (Rad) 10.66. Buckinghamshire Cup (team): 2 Oxon 20pts.

Junior – Discus – Final: 18 H Kimber-Nickelson (Oxf) 25.34. Hammer – Final: 6 E Lovibond (Rad) 46.85. AF Joseph Trophy (team): 8 Oxon 5pts.