DANIEL AWDE of Woodford Green Athletics Club with Essex Ladies claimed an easy first place in the junior men's competition at the inaugural England Combined Events Championships.

His day one results of 7.23secs in the 60m for 802 points, long jump of 6.86m for 781 points, shot of 11.47m for 574 points, and 4.25m pole vault for 688 points gave him an overnight lead of nearly 200 points.

Day two went almost as well.

Awde was disappointed with his high jump of just 1.72m for 560 points, but times of 8.15secs for 944 points in the 60m hurdles and 2mins 49.21secs for 774 points in the 1km were enough to give him overall victory with 5,123 points.

As well as proudly sporting a gold Amateur Athletics Association of England medal, Awde has been called up to compete for Great Britain at the international U23-U20 match next month.

Meanwhile, there were some top class performances by Woodford athletes at the South of England Indoor Championships held at the superb new Picketts Lock centre.

Richard Alleyne won the senior 60m in 7.94secs, Julie Pratt took the women's 60m hurdles in 8.58secs and Jo Duncan the women's shot putt with 15.31m.

But probably the most oustanding performance was from young Omar Mansour who, although in the middle of a heavy cross-country season, ran a great 2mins 3.1secs to take gold in the under-17 men's 800m.

Hannah Frankson also won gold in the under-20 women's long jump with a fine leap of 5.62m.

There were silver medals for Kathrine Foy, who clocked 2mins 19.4secs in the under-17 women's 800m, Bernadine Pritchett, 4mins 39.94secs in the women's 1500m, Stephanie Aneto, 12.38m in the women's triple jump, Azaria Francis, 5.67m in the women's long jump, and Chloe Galloway, 10.58m in the under-17 women's triple jump.

Tara Bird, with 57.03secs in the women's 400m, Diana Kennedy, who ran 11mins 13.2secs in the 3000m, and Jonelle Gibbons, with 7.65secs in the 60m, all took bronze.

Fourth places were gained by Nick Thomas in the men's triple jump, Katie Skelding, women's 200m, Bernadine Pritchett, women's 800m, and Chloe Galloway in the under-17 women's 60m hurdles.