CHARLIE Samouelle set a new record at the South Dorset Primary Schools Athletics Championships.

The Radipole School pupil took gold in the Year Five 150m and his time of 22.1secs is now the best ever in South Dorset.

Other athletes to take centre stage at the Marsh were Charlie Roberts of St Andrew’s and Wyke Regis Junior’s Eboni Cowan.

Cowan won the Year Five long jump with a leap of 3.51m, triumphed in the 55m hurdles with a time of 10.8secs and helped her fellow school-mates to victory in the Year Five relay (50.4secs).

Roberts meanwhile, equalled the South Dorset record by clocking 9.4secs in the 55m hurdles. He was also a member of the successful Year Six relay team (45.6secs).

Competitors now wait to find out whether they will be chosen to represent the South & West Dorset area at the County Championships, to be held at King’s Park Athletics Centre, Bournemouth on Saturday, July 3 (2pm).

The showpiece was due to be held in South Dorset but the poor state of facilities means the event has been moved east.

South & West athletics manager Don J Whistance said: “All competitors are encouraged to develop their athletics interests by joining their local athletics club in Dorchester and Weymouth where techniques and skills are fully developed.

“Athletes are also encouraged to purchase a pair of spikes for the County Championships as they often make a big difference.

“At King’s Park Athletics Centre and, the Ashdown Centre in Poole, the children run and compete on all-weather tracks.

“In Weymouth, we have an archaic track which, when it rains, becomes waterlogged and often causes our area championships to be abandoned.

“With this in mind, although it is our turn to organise the County Championships, we will have to travel to King’s Park because of the weather and the unacceptable state of the athletics track.

“Hopefully the Olympic legacy for 2012 will be achieved in the form of an all-weather athletics track somewhere in South Dorset.

“The talented athletes will not fully blossom until the relevant authorities finally improve the area’s flagging facilities.

“The children of South Dorset with athletic ability have sadly been let down over the years. And it would be a move in the right direction if we could find some influential people who could organise an effective campaign to provide improved athletics facilities here.”