The Sheffield athlete was always in control and won a well-judged race in 8:23.52 to take five seconds off his previous best.

There was another top middle distance performance from James Wilkinson (West Yorkshire). Continuing a superb sequence which has given him Northern and National Under-20 titles in the 2,000m steeplechase, Leeds City runner Wilkinson added the senior schools title in style, clocking 5:58.72.

Rhys Searles (South Yorkshire) won the senior pole vault title, justifying his pre-event favourite tag, but it was a close call. The Dearnside athlete cleared 4.70m to win on countback.

Another South Yorkshire vaulter from the same Dearnside 'stable', Eric Martin, won the junior event with 3.55m.

Competing on the first day, when conditions were poor, Martin was well down on his best ,but still had 10cm to spare over his nearest challenger.

Humberside had a winner in the junior girls' discus when Abbi Carter outclassed the opposition with a throw of 36.16m, retaining the title she won last year at Birmingham