South Devon AC takes gold in the Pearson Cup

South Devon Athletics Club continued their domination of the local junior athletics scene with a fourth successive win in the prestigious Pearson Cup competition.

The SDAC team beat all comers from Torbay AC, Newton Abbot AC and Dartmouth AC in the meet at Torre Valley North to complete an unprecedented four wins in a row in the annual junior track and field showdown.

It was a fitting accolade for the club on a weekend during which its juniors were in action at two prestigious events.

Under-15 Isla Perry travelled to Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium to compete in the English National Schools Championships, qualifying for the 200m as part of the Devon team through her performances during the first half of her debut season over the distance. 

She performed superbly in her morning heat to finish third, just one hundredth of a second off second position in the faster of the two heats, giving her an automatic qualification to the final.

The final was hotly contested, with Isla finishing in a creditable sixth place. She said she thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience and has a strong desire to compete regularly at this national level and achieve a podium finish. 

SDAC fielded a 25-strong squad of highly competent and competitive junior athletes at the Pearson Cup, aged from eight to 12 and competing across all disciplines. Athletes took part in sprints, middle distance running, long jump, high jump, vortex throw and shot put, as well as the sprint relay finals.

Best Boy and Best Girl age category winners went to Under-10 girl Chloe Brooks of SDAC, Under-11 boy Fynn Perry of SDAC, and in the Under-13 boy category Henry Gardiner (SDAC) and Luca Shillabeer (Newton Abbot AC), could not be split, both winning two golds and a silver apiece. 

The final points tally put South Devon first, with almost double the points of nearest competitors Torbay, ahead of Dartmouth and Newton Abbot.

The victorious team comprised Amelia Kimble, Eva Lindon, Chloe Brooks, Arlo Parham, Theo Green, Solomon Synnott, George Gardiner, Fynn Perry, Max Dickerson, Luke Sara, Lennon Village, Maddy Kent, Lexie Tedstone, Freya Lindon, Heidi Siegle, Ava Green, Josh Kimble, Isobel Foley, Leonora Noonan, Nia Blay, Henry Gardiner, Ben Cunningham, George Harries, Max Rollings, and Ollie Clayton.

A club spokesman said: “South Devon coaches applaud the great camaraderie that took place between the athletes from all clubs, 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 Dartmouth will be hosting.”