CHAFYN Grove School pupils thrived at the Prep School National Athletic Championships.

Star of the show was Oli Carr-Smith, a Year 6 pupil at Chafyn Grove, who ran a superb race in the 1,500m to become the under-12 national champion.

Having knocked 12 seconds off the course record at the qualifying Wessex event two weeks ago, he was hotly-tipped to win at the Birmingham-held finals.

Despite a stumble at the start, he led all the way and finished over 20m ahead of his opponent in 4mins 51secs, tantalisingly close to the national record of 4:50.

Carr-Smith joined William Maloney, Angus Bushby and Oliver Nash in the under-12s' relay team, which finished fourth.

Head of PE, James Kaminski, said: “This is a fine achievement by Oli and it brings a fitting end to a very successful season of athletics by the entire Chafyn Grove athletics squad.

"The future looks very bright."