FOUR of Hyndburn Schools' six victories in the recent Lancashire School's Championships were by boarders at Stonyhurst College.

Senior boys Debo Ademuyewu who won the 100m and 200m, long jumper Mwai Kumwende, and triple jumper Nguib Yusufu are Nigerians whose parents are based in London.

Because the students get most of their competition in matches with other independent schools they have remained almost unknown on the local scene until this recent success.

The boys have been on song since last month when, along with Debo's younger brother Dewola, they ran a 4x100m relay in 44.8seconds in a school's match against arch rivals Ampleforth College, breaking a school record which had stood since 1988.

That day Debo set a time of 10.6seconds in the individual event, and he followed that with 11.0seconds in the Lancashire Schools Championship, which has led to his selection for the English School's Championship.

Recently he has been running with Sale Harriers, but after the championships, he returns to Nigeria for the summer. He hopes to come back to Britain next year if he secures a place at University.

Although Mwai and Nguib just missed selection for English Schools, they both have another year left and along with Dewola will return to Stonyhurst next term.

A dozen East Lancashire athletes have been selected for the Lancashire Schools Team to compete in the English Schools Championship which will be held in Exeter on 6 and 7 July.

Boys: Junior: Matt Wood-800m (QEGS, Blackburn) Lee Pursglove-high jump (Albany, Chorley) Kieran Turner-400m (Park High, Pendle) Intermediate: Andrew Ormisher-javelin (Bishop Rawsthorne, Chorley) Owen Woodward-triple jump (Gawthorpe High, Burnley) Senior: Debo Ademuyewu-100m (Stonyhurst College Hyndburn) Rob Barton-1500m (St Mary's College, Blackburn).

Girls: Junior: Anna Brooks-800m (Westholme, Blackburn) Anna Griffiths-75m hurdles (Westholme, Blackburn) Louise Dickinson-200m (Park High, Pendle) Intermediate: Eloise Manger-javelin (Holy Cross, Chorley) Laura Finucane-800m (St Hilda's, Burnley)