Cumbrian teenager Joshua Reibbitt has been crowned England’s top young hammer thrower.
The promising Carlisle athlete claimed gold in the under-15 boys’ category at the English Schools Championships last weekend.
A throw of 44.59m was enough for 14-year-old Joshua to claim the national title.
He was one of a number of young Cumbrian athletes to compete at the event and the only teenager from the county to bring home a medal.
It is the latest success for the rising star only two years after he took up the sport.
The Richard Rose Central Academy student is a member of Carlisle Aspatria Athletics Club as well as Cumbria School of Hammer, whose president is Carlisle Olympian Nick Miller.
Joshua, the son of Simon and Kerry, is the top-ranked hammer thrower in England at his age group and his dad says his dedication is paying off so far.
“He only started with the hammer when he was 13 when he went with his friend to the Sheepmount,” Simon said. “His friend dropped out but Joshua carried on doing it.
“Nick Miller was at some of his training sessions when he was home from America – he gave him one of his hammer bags and Joshua still uses the same bag today.
“His first competition was last year, and he’s now number two in the UK and number one in England.
“He was up against the top nine under-15s in the country in Manchester last weekend, and won the event with a throw of 44m59cm.
“He’s quite a shy lad but he’s very determined. He trains three times a week, all through winter as well.
“We asked if he would like to do it properly and he said yes. He’s now seen what it’s like to go away for a championships like this, and it gives him an insight into what to expect if he wants to take up athletics professionally.”
Joshua’s best throw of 48.88m is nearly four metres ahead of his nearest rival.
Miller, who is currently competing in the World Championships in Oregon, launched Cumbria School of Hammer recently and six of their athletes represented the county in Manchester.
Joshua, who is coached by John Little and Paul Holliday, will next target the North of England Championships and the England AAAs Age Group Championships, both in August.
The Cumbria School of Hammer has brought together about 18 athletes from across Cumbria and the south of Scotland, and has promoted four competitions this summer at the Sheepmount, the next coming on July 30.
GB international Tara Simpson-Sullivan is an honorary member, while also on the books are three Scottish Schools internationals and other medal winners at regional age group championships.
Other Carlisle Aspatria athletes to compete in the English Schools championships included Anna Brocklebank, who came ninth in the junior girls’ hammer, while Ellen Sherwen threw a new personal best as she came ninth in the intermediate girls hammer. Archie Irving ran a new personal best in the 300m while James Bell did likewise in the 400m.
The senior boys’ hammer saw Aaron Holliday seventh, with Luke Dawson 13th in the shot put.
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