Southampton proved a popular new home for the Hampshire Schools' Track & Field Championships on Saturday.

With Southampton Sports Centre bathed in summer sunshine, even the clash with England's World Cup game against Paraguay kept few youngsters away.

"Entries are about the same as last year and the turnout is slightly down, but not massively so," reported Geoff Cunliffe, secretary of the Hampshire Schools' Athletic Association.

"The main gaps are in the boys' sprints where some of them play football as well as doing athletics."

Traditionally the championships have been held at Portsmouth's Mountbatten Centre, but Cunliffe believes Southampton is a worthy successor.

He said: "The facilities for the athletes are the best for miles. The track, the cage, the high jump and pole vault beds and the infield are all good.

"If Southampton had a bigger stand and an indoor training facility it would take off even more as an athletics venue, but everything has gone well today.

"The staff at Southampton are superb. They help out in any way they can."