Downsend School in Leatherhead have claimed four titles at the British Schools Biathlon Championships in Bath, writes Donna Wardle.

George Brophy was crowned British schools’ champion in the U10 boys’ category, earning the gold medal for the fastest run.

Three teams also took gold, thanks to Carrie Bonnar, Antonia Peckham and Martha Whitefoord in the U10 girls, Josie Truelove, Lucy Bean and Megan McInnes in the U11 girls and Caleb Whitefoord, Conor McCormack and David Pearson in the U12 boys.

The U10 boys team went close, with George Brophy, Tom Orr and Matthew Pearson claiming silver, while Craig Bonnar, Luke Pillar and James Francis took bronze in the U13 boys’ section.

Other fine individual performances came from Caleb Whitefoord, who took bronze in the U12 boys’ category, while in the U10 girls’ section Carrie Bonnar finished fourth, with Antonia Peckham sixth.

Alex Hogg finished second in the run for U11 boys’, while Sam Brill, Lara Sibley, Nicole vanstone and Rosie Onslow Wyld all set personal bests in both disciplines.

Even a coach weighed in, with Sally Read Cayton earning gold for the fastest run in the Teachers’ Race.

More than 250 schools were registered on the day, with more than 700 competitiors who had achieved qualification from seven regional rounds of a 1,000m run and 50m swim.

Downsend School are now progressing to the inaugural, Invitational Schools Biathlon at the World Championships to be held at Crystal Palace in August.