HILPERTON'S Howorth brothers certainly stamped their mighty Wiltshire presence in a spirited performance by Team Avon in the Youth Development League National Finals at Bedford, writes KEVIN FAHEY.

Twins John and Robert plus younger brother Rory won seven medals between them as the composite squad, comprising U20 and 17 athletes from Bristol & West AC, North Somerset AC, Mendip AC, Team Bath and Yate and District AC, finished a highly creditable fourth in the end-of-season finale at Bedford on Sunday.

“There were a lot of strong teams there from around the country and I was surprised at the level of competition,” said John.

“We certainly gave a good show of ourselves to finish fourth overall and we seemed to win a lot of medals. It was a really good day out and I enjoyed it.”

Team Bath athletes certainly played their part in a successful campaign culminating in the final where they secured 31 medals which included eight golds, 11 silvers and 12 bronze medals.

John chipped in with three medals, two bronzes in the U20 men’s 800m and 1500m plus a silver in the 4x400m relay where he was also joined by twin Robert and Westbury’s Hayden Bailey.

Robert also added a silver in the 1500m B race while multi-eventer Rory helped the U17 men’s 4x400m relay team to win gold, was third in the shot and fourth in the 1500m.

Staverton athlete Jenna Blundell impressed with silver medals in both the U20s 200m and 100m hurdles while there were golds for Rebecca Ousby in the U20s high jump and Gabriella Holt in the U20s hammer.

It was good to see Semington runner Will Stockley back in action after numerous injuries and his silver in the U20 men’s 3000m should give him great encouragement.

Among the B string medallists Trowbridge athlete Marcin Olech stood out with golds in both the U20 men’s long jump and triple jump events.

There were also golds for Sheldon School student Femi Akinbobola in the U17s 200m, Hayden Bailey in the U20s 800m and Chippenham’s Ellery Cole in the U17s 400m hurdles,

Silver medals were won by Robert Howorth, Justin Davies, Enya Maylor, Jonathan Evans and Keelan Tucker while there were further bronzes for Sarah Long, Sam Roberts and Cole.

“It was a brilliant result due to a great team effort from everyone,” said a statement issued by joint manager Sandra Woodman and Jim Strudwick.

“We achieved this because you all battled so hard for every point. You can feel very proud of yourselves as you are a great credit to your clubs and your families.

“Well done to those of you who were awarded individual medals and/or achieved personal bests. A big thank you to our lovely band of officials who support us so faithfully and earn us extra points.

“We hope being in the national final inspires you all to continue with your athletics and train hard this winter for another great season for Team Avon next year.”

Overall teams: 1 Blackheath & Bromley 842pts; 2 Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers 687; 3 Team Edinburgh 656.5; 4 Team Avon 563.5; 5 Rugby & Northampton AC 509; 6 Team Glasgow 410.

U20 men – 100 (+0.9w): 1 Daniel Brooks 10.88; B: 6 Delano Stewart 11.91; 200 (+1.3w): 2 Brooks 22.44; B (+1.5w): 2 Tim Pike 23.49; 400: 4 Hayden Bailey 50.95; B: 1 Joshua Snook 50.55; 800: 3 John Howorth 2:00.90; B: 1 Hayden Bailey 1:59.91; 1500: 3 Howorth 4:06.79; B: 2 Robert Howorth 4:11.75; 3000: 2 Will Stockley 9:06.86; B: 5 Otto Copping 9:38.56; 110H (+0.8w): 6 Jack Moore 17:37; 400H: 6 Joel Mattacks 64.99; B: 3 Sam Roberts 59.18; 2000 S/C: 5 Will Stockley 6:43.51; B: 4 Aidan Noble 7:17.37; LJ: 4 Jake Burkey 6.55; B: 1 Marcin Olech 6.25; HJ: 2 Adam Brooks 2.00; B: 1 Jack Moore 1.85; TJ: 2 Brooks 12.76; B: Olech 12.35; SP: 6 Toby Conibear 9.47; Discus: 6 Jacob Dibble 15.77; Jav: 4 Burkey 44.14; 4x100m relay: 5 Team Avon 45.56 (Joseph Keane, Delano Stewart, Jake Burkey, Daniel Brooks); 4x400m: 2= Team Avon 3:23.47 (R Howorth, J Howorth, Hayden Bailey, Joshua Snook).

U20 women – 100 (+1.6w): 3 Becci Ousby 13.15; B (+1.2w): 6 Jaz Rees 14.17; 200 (+1.8w): 2 Jenna Blundell 25.81; B: 3 Sarah Long 26.61; 400: 3 Long 60.50; B: 5 Jessica Mead 70.69; 800: 5 Lucy Conibear 2:59.72; 1500: 6 Conibear 6:24.77; 3000: 2 Hannah Hobbs 10:17.40; 100H (+1.1w): 2 Blundell 14.37; B(+2.5w): 2 Caroline Walder 17.40; 400H: 5 Jessica Mead 78.24; B: 2 Enya Maylor 69.67; LJ: 6 Becci Ousby NJ; B: 2 Robyn Ellison NJ; HJ: 2 Renee Jelf 1.55; B: 1 Ousby 1.45; TJ: 3 Ellison 10.34; B: 2 Lucy Durham 10.28; PV: 2 Walder 3.05; SP: 4 Gabriella Holt 9.65; B: 1 Anna Loughlin 8.86; Discus: 5 Holt 19.74; Hammer: 4 Loughlin 44.49; B: 1 Holt 40.40; Jav: 4 Jessica Mead 21.16; 4x100m relay: 6 Team Avon DQ; 4x400m: 5 Team Avon 4:33.01 (Sarah Long, Jessica Mead, Lucy Conibear, Enya Maylor).

U17 men – 100 (+2.2w): 4 Ethan Hall 11.11; B (+1.9w): 6 Luca Williams 11.59; 200 (+1.5w): 4 Hall 22.83; B (+2.0w): 1 Femi Akinbobola 22.79; 400: 4 Nathanael Mitchell 52.17; B: 1 Isaac Cory 54.50; 800: 1 Abdi Hasan 1:57.82; B: 3 Ellery Cole 2:05.40; 1500: 4 Rory Howorth 4:14.61; B: 2 Justin Davies 4:15.20; 3000: 6 Alex Parsons 9:29.87; 100H (+1.9w): 5 William Scammell 14.44; B (+3.2w): 4 Akinbobola 14.66; 400H: 3 Harry Meredith 58.10; B: 1 Cole 59.82; 1500S/C: 3 Alex Parsons 4:56.01; B: 4 James Casling 5:21.32; LJ: 5 Ben Game 5.41 (+2.1w); HJ: 6 Liam Hillier 1.55; TJ: 4 Keane 11.75 (+2.1w); PV: 4 Hillier 3.05; B: 3 Ben Latham 3.05; SP: 3 Howorth 12.39; B: 2 Jonathan Evans 12.21; Discus: 4 Evans 30.35; B: 2 Conibear 26.73; Hammer: 1 Conibear 55.01; B: 2 Jacob Dibble 22.60; Jav: 3 Dibble 41.40; B: 2 Keelan Tucker 40.63; 4x100m relay: 5 Team Avon 45.48 (Lucca Williams, Isaac Cory, Femi Akinbobola, Ethan Hall); 4x400m relay: 1 Team Avon 3:29.93 (Nathanael Mitchell, Abdi Hasan, Harry Meredith, Rory Howorth).

U17 women – 100 (+1.1w): 3 Abu Peake 12.56; B (+1.5w): 5 Mia Breeze 13.13; 200 (+0.1w); 3 Tia Jackson 24.44; B (+1.6w): 1 Peake 25.70; 300: 4 Jessica Frazer 41.97; B: 5 India Ibbotson 46.25; 800: 5 Eleanor Webster 2:24.26; B: 5 Ibbotson 2:29.69; 1500: 4 Claudia Spice 4:59.27; B: 4 Rhiannon Paton 5:17.60; 3000: 4 Rosie Hamilton-James 11:00.38; B: 5 Paton 11:54.74; 80H (+0.9w); 5 Sophie Martin 13.31; B (+2.3w): 5 Daisy Harvey 14.67; 300H: 3 Webster 49.84; B: 3 Harvey 54.15; 1500S/C: 2 Enya Maylor 5:18.00; B: 3 Emily Whitaker 5:48.24; LJ: 2 Jackson 5.40 (+0.6w); HJ: 5 Martin 1.40; TJ: 4 Crew 9.95; PV: 5 Hannah Lewis 2.30; B: 3 Megan Williams 2.30; SP: 6 Niamh Boulton 8.09; Discus: 5 Boulton 24.56; B: 3 Jodie Dale 18.99; Hammer: 4 Boulton 35.58; Jav: 6 Dale 33.60; 4x300 relay: 5 Team Avon 3:02.45 (Jessica Frazer, India Ibbotson, Daisy Harvey, Eleanor Webster).