Ffion wins again

Sunday 17 July 2011

Cardiff's Ffion Bodilly (pictured) won the girls' high jump at yesterday's SIAB Schools International, held at Cardiff International Sports Stadium. Ffion was the only Welsh winner at last year's event, held in Glasgow, and did well to overcome a difficult year as well as tricky jumping conditions to win again.

Cardiff counted another winner in Matthew Field who, not content with taking the boys' discus title, also came second in the shot put with 16.24m, a personal best.

Performances by other Cardiff athletes representing Welsh Schools were as follows:

Anax da Silva (100m - 3rd); Elliot Slade (800m - 2nd); Mike Ward (1500m - 6th); Ryan Cooper (400mH - 8th); Jonathan Bailey (high jump - 7th); David Callan (pole vault - equal 5th); Jac Palmer (hammer - 8th).

To view the full results click on RESULTS.

This international match is a very important stepping stone in a young athlete's career and this was proved by some fascinating information contained in the official match programme. The first ever such international was held 50 years ago, in 1961, and the list of participants includes some who went on to enjoy illustrious athletic careers. Second in the long jump and third in the triple jump (called hop, step and jump in those days) was 19 year old Lynn Davies. Three years later he was Olympic Champion. How many of yesterday's school students will gain an Olympic medal in Rio de Janeiro in 2016?