Cadets in gold rush

Air cadets from 1070 (Diss) Squadron had a great weekend at the Norfolk and Suffolk Wing Athletics competition, bringing home their largest-ever medal haul of eight golds, one silver and a bronze.

Teams from across Norfolk and Suffolk met at Bury St Edmunds on Sunday for a day of track and field events, and Diss squadron came third in the Boys' Youth class (15-17yrs).

Cpl Harry Purves,15, a pupil at Diss High School, continued his excellent form from last year, winning gold in the javelin, throwing the longest distance of the day across all classes!

Cdt Harley Crisp, 15, who has already represented Central and Eastern Region this year at rugby, won gold in both the 100m and long jump. Cdt Raphael Rushforth, 14, won his medal with the air cadets, with an impressive win in the 1500m in the Junior Boys' section.

They all now go on to represent Norfolk and Suffolk at the Regional athletics event at the end of May.

Other winners of the day included the Youth Boys' 100m relay team who won gold and Sgt Danielle Breacker, 19, who won the bronze in the Senior Girls' Shot and silver in the Discus.

Team manager Sgt Kyle Schooley, who ran the final leg in the relay, said: 'We really had a fantastic day, taking home 10 medals - and three of the team being selected to represent Norfolk and Suffolk is just amazing.

'Everyone put in the maximum effort at 1070 (Diss) Squadron, it's an awesome squadron to be on!'

Flight Lieutenant Emma Dixon, commanding officer of 1070 (Diss) Squadron, said: 'Our squadron is just going from strength to strength - 2010 is certainly looking like being the year of Diss!'

The winners were - Junior Boys: Cadet Raphael Rushforth - Gold (1500m); Youth Boys: Cpl Harry Purves - Gold (Javelin & 100m relay), Cadet Harley Crisp - Gold (100m, long jump and 100m relay), Cpl Lawrence Page - Gold (100m relay), Sgt Kyle Schooley - Gold (100m relay)

Senior Girls: Sgt Danielle Breacker - Silver (Shot) & Bronze (Discus).