Southend High dominated when the regional finals of the English Schools National Track and Field Cup were staged in hot but windy conditions at Basildon's Gloucester Park track on Monday.

Southend won three of the four competitions to make certain of competing when the national final is staged, with Gloucester Park also the venue for this prestige occasion in the year 2000, on Saturday July 1.

Only Rayleigh's FitzWimarc, who captured the intermediate girls' crown in superb style with 397 points, stopped Southend High enjoying a clean sweep of victories.

Southend have a proud tradition in the junior girls. They are the defending champions and, when the 21st national final goes ahead at Basildon, will be looking for their sixth victory in all.

Their winning regional final score yesterday was 336 and their closest rivals were FitzWimarc on 320 and Furtherwick Park, Canvey, on 316.

It was a proud afternoon for Southend High for Boys, who took both the junior and intermediate crowns.

In the juniors their winning total of 463 was 14 ahead of Grays with FitzWimarc just two further points back.

Tightest race was for the intermediate boys crown. Southend's winning total of 487 was just five clear of King John with Basildon's Chalvedon on 442 and FitzWimarc 422.

Fitz were the clearest winners on the day in the intermediate girls. Their 397 total put them 36 ahead of second-placed Southend with King John on 330.

Fitz also have a great record at the nationals. They have taken the intermediate girls on no less than four occasions and the juniors twice.

Southend High for Boys will go into their two finals looking for a first ever success - although they are the reigning junior boys English Schools Cross Country championships.

Some of the runners-up, and possibly even third placed teams, could yet make the national final as, when results are in from regional events all over the country, places for the big day are handed out to highest scoring "lucky losers."

The FitzWimarc intermediate girls had left Gloucester Park by the time the results were announced and will be pictured in Echosport later in the week.

(Right) At the double - Southend High for Boys enjoyed twin glory with their junior (above) and intermediate teams.

(Left) We've done it again - defending champions Southend High are back in the junior girls national final.

Pictures: STEPHEN LLOYD

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.