Queensland won the Australian Schools Championships outright for the first time today, backing up from their individual performance with an equally impressive set of relays. They won both boys’ classes, senior and junior, to set them on the way to a comfortable seven-point victory. Victoria, equal fourth overnight, also had a good day at the relays with consistent performances across the board, moving them up to second ahead of the hosts, Tasmania. Queensland’s only previous taste of victory had been a share of the 1991 title, against much thinner opposition than they faced here.

New Zealand were equally commanding in the Southern Cross Junior Challenge. As was the case yesterday, they were first or second in all four classes, taking out the two girls’ event. They looked set to make it three out of four again before a late mistake on the last leg of the senior boys let Queensland through for the win there. By then, though, New Zealand were so far in front overall that even a disqualification could not have stopped them.

Final scores:

Australian Schools Championships: Qld 46, Vic 39, Tas 36, NSW 35, ACT 34, SA 19, WA 11.
Southern Cross Junior Challenge: NZ 61, Qld 49, Vic 39, Tas 36, NSW 35, ACT 34, SA 19, WA 11.

Australian Schools Honour Team:

Senior boys: James Sheldon, Rob Fell, Daniel Stott, Nick Andrewartha
Senior girls: Heather Harding, Clare Brownridge, Bridget Anderson, Sarah Dunnage
Junior boys: Lachlan Dow, Oliver Crosato, Oscar Phillips, Leon Keely
Junior girls: Krystal Neumann, Claire Darvodelsky, Catherine Hewitt, Belinda Lawford