Oxfordshire's junior boys upstaged their illustrious rivals to strike gold in the English Schools' Sainsbury's Combined Events Championships at Birmingham's Alexander Stadium.

The trio of Ed O'Hara (Larkmead School, Abingdon), Peter Barnshaw (Abingdon School) and Marcus Woodington (Wheatley Park School) grabbed the glory in the pentathlon.

They rattled up a personal best score for Oxfordshire of 7,894 points to finish ahead of Kent on 7,795 and Essex on 7,354.

O'Hara finished fourth in the individual competition with 2,753 points, which included personal bests of 1.69m in the high jump and 2mins 14.56secs in the 800m.

Barnshaw was a place back in fifth with 2,742 points after recording personal bests of 9.37m in the shot, 5.52m in the long jump and 2.10.40 in the 800m.

London's Blade Ashby took gold with 2,977 points followed by Kent's William Grist with 2,835 and Middlesex's Alex Peden with 2,771.

O'Hara's exploits earned him an England call-up for the international against Scotland, Ireland and Wales at Glasgow's Kelvin Hall on Saturday, November 29, while Barnshaw was named as first reserve.

Woodington provided the pair with strong support, finishing 17th of the 40 competitors.

He recorded 2,399 points with personal bests of 9.66m in the shot, 4.99m in the long jump and 2.22.18 in the 800m.

Oxon led after the first two events – the hurdles and shot – only for Kent to edge ahead following the long jump.

But Oxon were back in front after the high jump and three cracking runs in the 800m, with O'Hara third fastest and Barnshaw second quickest to leap up from 13th place, clinched gold.

In the junior girls pentathlon, Oxon's Emily Carstairs (Lord Williams's, Thame) came 27th in a 42-strong field.

She posted 2,494 points with a personal best of 12.46 in the 75m hurdles and 1.45m in the high jump.

OXON RESULTS.

Junior boys pentathlon – 4 E O'Hara (80mH: 12.29; shot: 10.70; f=Helvetica s=6long jump: 5.51; high jump: 1.69pb; 800m: 2.14.56pb) 2,753pts pb. 5 P Barnshaw (80mH: 12.03; shot: 9.37pb; long jump: 5.52pb; high jump 1.66; 800m: 2.10.40pb) 2,742pts pb.17 M Woodington (80mH: 11.73; shot 9.66pb; long jump 4.99pb; high jump: 1.51; 800m: 2.22.18) 2,399pts pb. Team: 1 Oxon 7,894pts pb; 2 Kent 7,795; 3 Essex 7,354.

Junior girls pentathlon – 27 E Carstairs (75mH: 12.46pb; shot: 7.21; high jump: 1.45pb; long jump: 4.56; 800m: 2.45.39) 2,494pts.