South Devon youngsters retain Pearson Cup

South Devon Athletic Club hosted the 2023 Pearson Cup on Sunday at Torre Valley North, Torquay, the home of Torbay Athletics Club, rather than their home ground of Churston Ferrers Grammar School, which was unavailable.
This did not thwart the 22 South Devon athletes who all competed with great spirit against competitors from Torbay, Newton Abbot and Dartmouth athletics clubs, all aged from eight to twelve years old.
The early weather did not herald for a good day with heavy showers and the threat of thunder and lightning, but as 9am approached, the clouds started to clear and glimpses of sunshine beckoned.
Athletes competed through the day at sprints, middle distance (600 and 800m), long jump, high jump, vortex throw and shot put, as well as the sprint relay finals to finish of the day. The sun shone throughout and so did the athletes, with personal best performances galore, driven on by great competition from all clubs.
At the end, the results and points were tallied and the awards ceremony revealed that South Devon came away with thirteen golds, eleven silvers, six bronze medals and four team relay golds.
Best Boy and Best Girl age category winners went to U10B Freddy-George Down (Dartmouth), U10G Maddy Kent (South Devon), U11B Ben Ward (Newton Abbot), U11G Leonora Noonan, U13B Luca Shillabeer (Newton Abbot), and U13G Isla Perry (South Devon).
The final points position was – Newton Abbot 158, Dartmouth 168, Torbay 234 and the winners, also retaining the Pearson Cup, were South Devon Athletics Club with 307 points.
Every boy and girl in the Club who competed on Sunday made this possible and they are – George Gardiner, Benjamin Holman, Fynn Perry, Luke Sara, Lennon Village, Maddy Kent, Anika-Belle Wilson, Freya Lindon, Heidi Siegle, Ava Green, Josh Kimble, Isobel Foley, Leonora Noonan, Harry Stanton, Jayden Churchward, Henry Gardiner, Tom Kent, Ryan Askew, Hayden Smyth, Sophie Cleaver, Isla Perry and Shailah Docherty.
South Devon coaches applaud the great camaraderie that took place between the athletes, as well as the support provided by all the parents, volunteers and coaches from all the clubs. We’ll see you back next year when Torbay will be hosting.