Having held the overall ​Northern High Schools Sports Association shield since 1988, Riverside was deprived of top performers like Sam Clifford and Sejr Deans due to national sporting commitments and was pushed all the way by Kings Meadows before winning by just 60 points.

The two leading schools claimed six of the seven records to be broken with Riverside’s Madison Brazendale (800m in 2.27.86 and triple jump of 10.33m) and Kings Meadows’ Makala Bingley (grade 9 javelin of 34.27m and shot put of 11.27m) setting two each.

Joshua Harris (KMHS) with 54.29 in the grade 8 400m, Jackson Wood (RHS) with 25.40 in the grade 7 200m and Prospect’s Alicia Hollingworth-Ciseau (10.20m in the grade 7 triple jump) set the other records.

Healey Mather took advantage of Scottsdale’s short-lived promotion from division 2 by claiming a keenly-fought grade 9 high jump.

After a tight duel with Propsect’s Elliot Lockhart, Mather won with 1.67m.

“That was pretty competitive, everyone just kept going,” he said. “I last did a division 1 carnival in grade 7 and you can notice the difference. It’s definitely a lot harder and better because you push yourself more.”

Scottsdale teacher Damien Hyland added: “It’s a real challenge for them to come in and compete with all the division 1 schools. They enjoy that challenge and it’s always nice to be out of the classroom.”

Despite Clifford’s absence, Riverside still clean swept the grade 9-10 1500m, Connor Hannes winning in 4:34.90.

“If Sam was here he might have won, but I’d have been on his tail,” said Hannes, who sprinted the final straight.

“It feels amazing to win. I did not think I’d get it because there were a lot of good, competitive runners, but I just kept going.”

Eliza Matthews retained her 200m (28.35) on a busy schedule for the Kings Meadows grade 9 who also ran the 100m, 1500m and relays.

“It’s a good day, the sun’s out and everyone is enjoying themselves,” she said. “I love the spirit of the carnivals.”