BASINGSTOKE and Mid Hants athletes picked up three medals, including one gold, at the South of England Championships.

The Down Grange club sent a strong team to the championships, which were held at Lee Valley, but distance runner Dave Ragan was the star performer.

He claimed a gold medal for the club in the 3,000m steeplechase, stopping the clock at 9min, 16.13sec to win the race by a clear margin.

Dean Showler-Davis won silver in the 200m, clocking 21.22sec, while Myles Richardson was the club’s other medallist, winning bronze in the under-20 400m in 49.01sec.

Richardson’s younger brother, Owen, reached the final of the under-20 200m but elected not to run, while Andy Blow clocked 14.54sec on his way to fourth place in the 110m hurdles.

North Hampshire athletes claimed a total of 16 county titles at the Hampshire Schools Championships.

Basingstoke and Mid Hants youngsters claimed 14 of them, with three athletes claiming two titles.

Caius Joseph won the intermediate boys 200m and long jump, Evie Wilcox won the senior girls shot and discus, while Mair Edwards won the intermediate girls 200m and high jump.

Another athlete to claim two titles was The Clere School's pupil Holly Mills, who won both the 80m hurdles and long jump at intermediate girls level.

Other Basingstoke and Mid Hants winners included James Beeks, who won the intermediate boys 1,500m steeplechase.

Freya Davis (3,000m), Gemma Finch (high jump) and Danya Wegg all won in the senior girls category.

Lucy Wildash (800m) and Katherine Abel (javelin) came out on top in the intermediate girls events.

Junior girls titles were taken by Catherine Edwards (200m) and Rebecca Bullock.