KATIE and Sam Rodda made it a family double at the Berkshire Schools athletic championships at Palmer Park on Saturday, writes Dave Wright.

Katie won the intermediate girls’ 3,000m title, while her brother took the honours in the senior boys’ race.

Kirsty Walker raced to glory in the senior girls’ event to complete a hat-trick of titles over the distance for the Reading area team.

Another to show plenty of staying power was Max Cooper, who won the intermediate boys’ 1,500m steeplechase.

Cooper is a pupil at Blue Coat School and his victory capped a successful day for one of his teachers, Simon Cook, as he was sharing the team manager’s duties with Brian Day.

“Yes, I was pleased to see Max win his race, but equally pleasing were the excellent performances from many other Reading competitors,” said Cook. “It has been a good day for the team.”

Their star performer was Angela Lowe, who was in record-breaking form in the intermediate girls’ shot.

Her putt of 11.62m easily defeated the old record of 10.92.

In addition to Lowe, other Reading winners in the girls’ Under 17 events included Georgia Kent in the 100m, long jumper Jasmine McCallum, high jumper Isabell Church and Trinity O’Connor in the pole vault.

Walker was Reading’s only track winner at senior girls’ level, and they only secured one success in the field events with Caitilin Stacey out-throwing her rivals in the discus.

Two more titles came Reading’s way in the junior girls competition with Anjelina Manase winning the discus and Amy Luke the hammer.

Sam Rodda completed a successful day for Reading in the senior boys’ events with titles also going to Ramone Jordan in the 100m, Chey Kemp in the 2,000 steeplechase and shot putter Charlie Ashdown-Taylor.

Cooper was joined on the intermediate boys winners’ list by 400m runner Harry North.

Reading were also successful in two of the junior (U15) events with Tom Rickards leading the field home in the 800m and Jamie Bonella-Duke winning the hammer.

Those who won titles and also reached the required England Schools’ qualification times will hear this week if they have been selected to represent the county at the English Schools Championships to be held at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium on July 7-8.

Berkshire, who have enjoyed tremendous success over the last few years, have been moved up into Group A, enabling them to pick a team of up to 70 competitors, double the previous maximum.

Berkshire Schools AA chair Lesley Ashton said: “In the past we had to disappoint many athletes who achieved the qualifying standard, so we are delighted that the method of selecting the groups has been changed.”

However, it will be tougher for a small county such as Berkshire to win team awards, like they have previously, as they will now be facing the largest counties in the country.

Dr Ashton, who handed out the medals, said on behalf of her committee: “We would like to thank the everyone who put a lot of time and effort into ensuring that the meeting went smoothly. Grateful thanks also go to the many track and field officials and teachers who gave up their time to help.

“Thank you, also, to the staff at Palmer Park for their help in preparing the stadium and M&M Medical Services for providing first aid.”