NICHOLAS Hunt and Lewis Shepherd each gained bronze medals at the English Schools’ Championships in Birmingham.

Bournemouth-based Hunt, a high jump gold-medallist in both 2010 and 2012, when at the top of his age category, stepped up to the senior boys’ competition.

Clearing 2.00m for bronze, Hunt was pipped for silver only on countback, finishing 3cm down on the winner. Dorset team-mate Jack Roach was sixth on 1.97m.

Shepherd, eliminated in the heats on his Championship debut last year, qualified for the junior boys’ 80m final with a second-placed 11.7s.

The Parkstone Grammar School pupil then clocked a personal best 11.59s to secure his bronze medal, with Wimborne’s Ryan Long eighth in 11.83s.

Javelin thrower Ben Dickin-son consolidated his rapid rise with fourth place in the junior boys’ event. The Harewood College star threw a personal best 52.53m as the top four finished in their national under-15 ranking order.

Senior 100m semi-finalists Alex Hately and Kevin Hodgson led a Dorset squad that finished an agonising 0.02s outside a surprise relay bronze.

Intermediates Ryan Smith (discus, 45.44m) and Ashleigh Power (hammer, 43.86m) finished fifth in their respective finals.

English Schools’ Track & Field Championships at Birmingham, Dorset results, Senior Boys: 200m 5sf 1 Kevin Hodgson 22.22 (heat 22.12), 6 sf 2 Alex Hately 22.28 (heat 21.87), 2,000m steeplechase 8 Harry Lane 6:14.32, 9 Benedict Westhenry 6:22.07, 4x100m 4 Dorset 42.38, High Jump 3 N Hunt 2.00m, 6 Jack Roach 1.97m.

Intermediate Boys: 200m 4 heat 3 Scott Rutter 22.92, 100m hurdles 4 heat 1 Nishan Brooks 13.84, Discus 5 Ryan Smith 45.44m, 12 Tom Peters 39.03m.

Junior Boys: 200m 4 heat 1 Max Hammett 23.74, 300m 5 Sam Wheeler 36.76 (semi-final 36.49), 80m hurdles 3 Lewis Shepherd 11.59, 8 Ryan Long 11.83 (heat 11.7), Long Jump 16 Patrick Scylla 5.43m, Javelin 4 Ben Dickinson 52.53m.

Intermediate Girls: Triple Jump 7 Pool A Angel Kerin 10.66m, Long Jump 9 Rachel Welch 5.13m, Discus 11 Hammer 5 Ashleigh Power 43.86m.

Junior Girls: 7 heat 4 Lauren Cooper 26.41, Shot 12 Bethan Burley 9.61m.