Northern champ Simon aiming for the nationals

A RIPON Grammar School runner crowned 400m champion at a prestigious northern athletics tournament is now aiming for the nationals.

Simon Bordewich struck gold in the U17 boys race at the North of England Indoor Championships in Sheffield, achieving a new personal best of 50.24s.

The teenager, who runs with Harrogate Harriers and previously held the English Schools national 300m title, will vie for the national 400m crown this summer.

Injury prevented Simon, from Burton Leonard, from defending his title last year. He said: “This is a step towards competing for the national title again.”

Following his latest triumph, he added that he was pleased to be on form so early in the year in a tough competition: “I had to beat the defending U17 400m indoor champion and some strong newcomers over heats, a semi-final and final all on the same day.”

The 15-year-old, who first took up running as a youngster when he joined Ripon’s Parkrun at Fountains Abbey, trains three times a week at the Leeds Beckett University athletics track and also plays rugby for school and Ripon Rugby Club.