Newport's Ben Rowlings finishes on a high

More than 1,600 talented school children descended on Manchester to compete in 12 sports across four action-packed days.

And Rowlings, who was representing England North West, was one of the stars of the show, clocking a time of 17.60s to take home the title at the Regional Athletics Centre.

And while the New College Telford pupil was disappointed to miss out on a new PB, he believes the result shows how far he has come on in 2014.

"It's always good to be a winner. This is the end of the season so it's good to finish with a bit of a bang," said Rowlings, who is part of Coventry Godiva Harriers.

"It's been an amazing year and to round off with a PB would have been nice, but it shows how much I've progressed. It's good that I can start mixing it with the big guys on a world level.

"I'm going to have a week off completely and, when I go back, start getting used to a new chair, start getting ready for Worlds next year.

"I will spend hours and hours in the gym and on the track with my coach trying to get those last little half-seconds. It's all about the Worlds and then it's only a couple of months until Rio, so it all comes thick and fast.

"I've had my new chair ready for a while, but I haven't touched it, just because there are too many changes to try and get used to in a short space of time.

"I had a little go in it this week and it's quicker than the one I'm using at the moment, so fingers crossed over the next couple of years it can do me well."

The Sainsbury's School Games is supported by National Lottery funding from Sport England and is delivered by the Youth Sport Trust.

The event has helped to launch the careers of many British athletes, including heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson and Paralympic swimmer Ellie Simmonds who were watching the next generation of British stars coming through.

Rowlings was not the only athlete from the area to taste success in Manchester, with Lacon Childe pupil Katie Lambert claiming silver in the girls hammer.

Alice Kinsella also won gold on the uneven bars, team gold and all around silver in the girls gymnastics, while Ffion Butler claiming silver in the girls Multi Class 100m backstroke.

And Shrewsbury's Hollie Williamson took bronze in the girls 80m hurdles in a personal best time of 11.63 seconds and she could not hide her delight.

"I'm over the moon to come back from a year-long injury and take the bronze medal; I didn't even think I'd be here to be honest," the Sundorne School pupil said.

"My target was to get a new personal best if I could but to get a medal as well, I didn't expect to do anywhere near that well.

"Next season I'd like to do well here again and improve in the rankings, potentially looking to get to Siam and just build on this year really."

The Sainsbury's 2014 School Games was supported by National Lottery funding from Sport England and delivered by the Youth Sport Trust and held in venues across Manchester. Visit www.2014schoolgames.com for more information.