CANON Slade proved themselves one of the top schools in the country for athletics when they finished sixth in the English Schools Championships.

The Bolton School took a team of 12 inter age group girls from years nine and 10 to Thames Valley Harriers' stadium at Eton where they were among the best 12 schools to reach the national final out of 700 entries.

Each girl had to take part in one track and one field event and the superb sixth place was almost bettered as they finished just one point behind Millfield School with 387 points.

The competition was won by Liverpool's St Hilda's School.

It was an impressive team performance by the girls who boasted one winner in 15-year-old Victoria O'Donnell in the 1500m which she won in a personal best time of just under five minutes.

Canon Slade head of girls physical education Carol Brooking said: "To reach the final 12 from 700 schools, which was the second largest entry ever, is an outstanding achievement and the girls excelled themselves in the final.

"Having to compete in one track and one field event makes it very difficult but the girls were fantastic. They are excellent athletes which they have already shown by winning the Bolton town championships at year nine and year 10."