FIVE junior athletes from Tavistock Athletic Club competed in the final of the English Schools Athletics competition, held in Birmingham on July 13 and 14.

Day one saw Ben Pitts representing Mount Kelly competing in the junior boy’s long jump. Ben jumped 5.48m before having to pull out due to injury. Edward Fileman, representing Ivybridge, was competing in the hammer for the inter boy’s age group. He came 9th in a packed field, throwing a 2m personal best with a throw of 54.29m.?Then came Joely Bytheway representing Callington, who was running in her final year in the 400m hurdles. Joely excelled with a new personal best of 66.51, coming 12th overall.?Also running in her final year was Emma Ryder, representing Notre Dame. Emma ran in the senior girls 800m where she qualified third in her heat, to make it through to the final on Saturday. On a very hot day in Birmingham she finished 6th in a packed field.

Lois Fileman, representing Ivybridge in her first year of senior girls, came 13th in the hammer with a throw of 40.08m.

Tavistock Athletic Club chair Alistair Kinsey said: ‘I’m delighted that we had five junior athletes reach the finals of this national competition across so many different disciplines.

‘It is a tribute to their dedication, hard work and talent.

‘It’s also a tribute to the coaches at the club who help all the juniors at the club to try and achieve their potential.’