Four boys from Thorpe Bay's Alleyn Court School performed with distinction in the Independent Schools Association national cross-country championships and helped East Anglia to win the under-12 boys' title.

They all collected gold and an individual silver went to Mark Bailey, who came a very close second. He was well supported by William Owen (13th), Luke Hurley (29th) and Paul Gardiner (42nd).

Star quartet (left to right): Luke Hurley, Paul Gardiners, William Owen and Mark Bailey

Picture: MAXINE CLARKE Greensward denied glory

The Greensward school was denied further basketball glory by Rochdale's Siddlemoor school in a closely fought National All England final staged at Watford.

There was no repeat of the Hockley school's recent success in the under-15 final of the competition as they were beaten 73-62.

However, brilliant individual performances from England international Louise Gamman and Hannah Wilhelmy, who clocked up a combined 39 points tally, almost turned the table on their Manchester opponents.

Greensward's sports co-ordinator Tony Mescall said: "We were hoping to make it a double success following our victory in the under-15 final, but it wasn't to be.

"But all the girls can be very proud of themselves for putting on a first class display in yet another national final for our school."

Greensward were also involved in the National finals of the Sunny Delight sponsored three on three competition held at Wembley Arena and were the only school to be represented by three teams.

The under-19s lost out in the final qualifiers and although the under-16 and under-13 sides made the grand final in front of 2,000 people, they were also beaten by Taunton's St Augustines and RAF Lakenham schools.

Greensward picked up two runners-up trophies and a cheque for £1,000 to spend on sports equipment for the school.

"Although we didn't win, we have again shown our strength on the basketball court, which proves we are without doubt one of the best basketball schools in the country," Tony added.

However, the Greensward players' feats in reaching five national finals haven't gone unnoticed with young starlets Vicki Willmore and Danielle Hills receiving call-ups for the south of England squad which travels to Telford soon.

Greensward's basketball season is drawing to a close now, but they still have the opportunity to pick up a hat-trick of honours on the domestic front in three county girls finals.

Next month their under-15, 16 and 19 teams face the Brentwood Ursuline, Cornelius and Havering schools, respectively. SEEVIC students through to finals

The increasing number of sports students at Thundersley's SEEVIC College have kept its strong traditions alive by reaching the British Colleges Sport national finals.

The 50-strong squad will be travelling to Blackpool on April 23 to represent both the College and the eastern region in eight disciplines against rivals from all over England and Wales.

Qualification to the national finals involved winning the eastern region, a group comprising local rivals as well as competitors as far afield as Northampton.

The challenge started when the women's hockey team dominated the local tournament without conceding a goal.

The ladies' badminton doubles did not even lose a single game as they booked their place in the finals. Claire Fallis qualified in table tennis despite undergoing a recent knee operation.

The cross-country runners endured gruelling courses of up to 7.5 kilometres, but came through to achieve creditable positions. Andrew Linghard was fifth.

The boys' trampolining team bounced to victory over Colchester and Chelmsford with James Attcott collecting second place and Wendy Ryall qualifying for the third year running.

The girls' volleyball team saw SEEVIC College beat off tough competition from the College of West Anglia in one of the closest matches the tournament has ever seen.

The five-a-side football team won all their games in their pool and then went on to claim the scalps of South-east Essex College and then Peterborough in the semi-final and final respectively.

Sport at SEEVIC is moving into even higher levels of achievement with increasing academic courses including A level PE, first and national diplomas in sport science, coaching awards in basketball, volleyball and football and recent links forged with Southend United and other top pro clubs.

Anyone interested in finding out more about the range of sporting courses on offer at SEEVIC should go along to their open evening on April 27 from 6-9pm.

Full of cheer - the sporting students of SEEVIC College

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