Cumbrian athlete Joshua Reibbitt wins silver medal in hammer at England AAA U15/U17 championships

Joshua, from Carlisle, produced a personal best to secure the silver medal in the England AAA U15/U17 age group championships at Bedford last weekend.

The young Cumbrian in fact bettered his previous best three times in the competition, producing a throw of 52.38m in the fourth round.

That saw him in second place behind UK number one Thomas Williams from Wrexham, who threw 59.62m.

Joshua’s performance underlined his status as England’s top hammer thrower at his age group.

He went into the major competition with a personal best of 48.88m but improved it with throws of 49.08m and 49.80m before producing an even better throw in the fourth round.

His achievement is the latest in an excellent season for the Carlisle Aspatria Athletics Club member, who is also part of Cumbria School of Hammer.

He has already been crowned English Schools champion, Cumbrian champion, and north of England champion.

“Joshua would like to thank his coaches John Little and Paul Holliday for help and guidance this season,” said his dad Simon.

Nick Miller at the Sheepmount with hammer coaches Paul Holliday and John Little

Joshua is aiming to follow in the footsteps of double Commonwealth Games champion Nick Miller, who is president of Cumbria School of Hammer.

The Scotby star, on a visit to his home city last week, dropped into the Sheepmount to speak to the local hammer athletes.

He watched Joshua in action as well as Jessica Mitchinson, Hannah Garrett and Aaron Holliday, passing on advice to the young hopefuls as well as chatting to coaches Paul Holliday and John Mitchell.

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