Three athletes stuck gold as Sussex enjoyed team had their best All-England Schools' Championships for four years at Exeter.

Heavy showers and strong winds made life difficult for the athletes but Claire Smithson was unperturbed by the conditions as she won her fourth All-England title in taking the senior discus throw.

Smithson's winning effort of 52.97m was a new championship record and saw her win the title by more than ten metres.

Emma Perkins continued her domination of the high jump scene in the intermediate age group by winning with a fine leap of 1.74m, which was only just below her best.

The third title went to junior sprinter Wade Bennett-Jackson who took the 100m crown in 11.07sec, which would have been a new Sussex record had he not had the assistance of a strong following wind.

It was not only the youngsters of Sussex who were on song at the weekend.

Crawley made the 300-mile plus journey to Jarrow for the third of this season's British League events and they took second team spot to Luton to virtually assure themselves of promotion back to division three.

At Southend Worthing and District Harriers kept up their pressure at the top of division one of the Southern Men's League but, whereas Crawley have only one more league fixture, Worthing have two and still have to meet other leading teams.

Crawley team manager Mark Sheridan said: "We are aiming to go up as champions. Injuries and the long journey to Jarrow meant we were well below full strength but we still managed to finish only a few points behind league leaders Luton."

Joel Kidger continued his excellent improvement to win the 800m and he followed that by taking fourth in the 1500m, breaking four minutes in the process.

Pole-vaulter Adam Walker excelled himself in the absence of elder brother Leigh, who is normally the Crawley No. 1 when Nick Buckfield is not available.

Walker soared to a new personal best of 4.60m for victory.

These were the only A winners for this well balanced Crawley team although Anthony Bliss took the B 110m hurdles in 15.5sec, which was faster than the Crawley A runner.

Sheridan put in more hard work than usual. He finished second in his normal event, the hammer, with 48.87m, taking fifth in the javelin and second in the B shot putt.

Chris Minns was again in good form in the 400m hurdles, finishing a close second in 57.6sec.

For Worthing at Southend, Paul Gilding won both the A high hurdles in 15.2sec and the high jump with 1.85m as well as the B long jump with 6.37m.

Sprinter Gavin Stephens had won the A long jump with 6.55m, having earlier matched A runner Alistair Gordon's second placed time of 11.0sec when taking the B 100m.

A full report from the All-England Schools' meeting will appear in The Argus on Wednesday.