AN athletics club is celebrating every single one of its junior throwers achieving a UK ranking.

The young shot putters, and javelin, discus and hammer throwers at the Forest of Dean Athletic Club all managed to make their mark after an “outstanding” year of dedication to their training at the Five Acres leisure centre.

Coach Andrew Compton said: “This year we had a very high standard of throws athletes and managed the Herculean task of getting every thrower into the national rankings.

“We have a saying in the group – ‘Put in what you want to get out of your training.’

“If athletes want to improve, they are encouraged to train three times a week, and are given strength and conditioning to do.

“The exercises can be done at home or at a gym, and the dedication shown by athletes has been nothing short of outstanding.

“They have proven to their coach that they are 100 per cent dedicated and it has helped them and other athletes realise what can be achieved.”

Mr Compton added that they had to say a “very big thank you” to Five Acres for “the foresight” to let the club put a training cage on site.

“It makes throwing much safer, and having the experience of throwing from the cage helps in competition,” he added.

Now the throwers are already looking ahead to 2018, where they will be looking to stay on the UK rankings, remaining injury free by being strong and well conditioned.

They are all aiming to score highly in the Youth Development League, and hopefully some will compete at the English and Welsh Schools championships. 

Hammer thrower Maisy Harvey won the U15 South West championship in 2017, throwing a 3kg personal best (PB) of 35.97m, and is ranked 25th in the UK and 19th in England.

Other throwers to make their mark were Hannah Kolic (U15) in 3kg hammer with a 32.86m best (48th in UK, 37th in England, fifth in the south west and Welsh Schools finalist); Mellisa Kolic (U17) in 3kg hammer with a 39.33m PB (66th in UK, 57th in England, ninth in the south west and third at the South West championships); Mia Bishop (U13) in 3kg Hammer with a PB of 24.74m; Hope Adams (U15) in 3kg hammer (first year of training with a PB of 20m); Xenia Bennett (U15) in 1kg discus with a 23.71m PB (107th in the UK, 83rd in England, seventh in the south west); Lauren Bennett (U13) in 2.72kg shot with an 8.46m PB; Tille Westwood in 500g javelin with a 31.66m PB (54th in the UK, 44th in England, sixth in the south west); and William Compton (U15) in 4kg hammer with a 25.46m PB (113th in the UK, 95th in England, 12th in the south west).