IN PICTURES: Harmans Water triumph in Bracknell Forest Primary Schools Athletics Championships

The event at Bracknell Leisure Centre’s athletics stadium was part of the borough council’s Young People in Sport Scheme.

Glorious sunshine meant conditions were perfect for the tried and tested format of three track and field events.

And, as usual, there were some terrific individual and team performances.

Championship records have been rare in recent times and this year was no exception with no new records despite some outstanding displays.

The first event was the unique shuttle relay featuring all of the teams, with 10 places in the final up for grabs and the opportunity to compete for double points. As well as speed, it requires clever running as time penalties are imposed for infringements.

Whitegrove pupils with their silver medals. Pictures by Stewart Turkington.

After the heats, the teams dispersed with action taking place in two further track events and three field events.

The 80 metres sprint heats opened the track events, with the top two athletes in each heat qualifying for the finals.

Out in the field, Crown Wood started well in the Girls A long jump as did Meadow Vale in the Boys event. Wooden Hill and Holly spring picked up maximum points in the B long jump.

In the shot putt, Whitegrove and Harmans Water won the A string events, and Harmans Water completed a fine double by winning the Girls B shot, while Crowthorne picked up valuable points in the Boys B shot.

In the ball throwing events, Whitegrove won the Girls A rounders ball, while Ascot Heath won the Boys A cricket ball by two-and-a-half metres.

Warfield won the Girls B rounders ball by a distance and Harmans Water continued to accumulate points by winning the Boys B cricket ball.

The 600m races produced plenty of excitement as longer distance runners came into their own.

In the Girls B string, Whitegrove were comfortable winners, as they also were in the Girls A string races.

In the Boys 600m, Harmans Water won the A string after a great battle with Wooden Hill and St Josephs claimed the B string.

In the sprint finals, Binfield set the standard winning the Girls B final and were just pipped into second place by Ascot Heath in the Boys B string.They did, however, pick up maximum points in the Boys A race with Crown Wood just beating Harmans Water on the line in the Girls A race.

Wooden Hill finished third.

The final event was the shuttle relay which featured 10 schools each with 10 athletes. With time penalties for handover infringements, the result is sometimes in doubt even after it has finished.

With the top of the leaderboard extremely close, the final event had extra significance.

The race was a blur of frantic activity, but infringements were rare leading to a straight foot-race.

Harmans Water crossed the line first, followed by Whitegrove and then Wooden Hill.

With relay results added into the points totals, Harmans Water edged into the lead to take the title ahead of Whitegrove in second place and Wooden Hill in third.

At the end of a breathless afternoon of athletics, it was left to the successful teams to receive their trophies and medals before celebrating with their team mates and enthusiastic supporters.