ANDOVER Athletics Club athletes secured a double medal haul at this year’s English School’s National Championships held at Gateshead’s International Stadium, with five athletes representing their respective counties.

As reported in the Andover Advertiser last week, Holly Mills went into the long jump as the current UK number one but faced stiff competition from the ever-improving current England international Eleanor Broome, who beat her to the gold.

In his last ever ESAA championship Scott Barker was out to show what a talent he is over the quarter mile.

After years of injuries Scott has managed to keep himself healthy and injury-free for two seasons and has worked hard to drastically reduce his PB.

Barker dominated his heat and scorched to a new PB of 48.38, going into the final as the third fastest qualifier, but narrowly missed a bronze by two tenths of a second to finish in a respectable fifth place just outside his PB with 48.39.

However he later scooped a bronze as part of the senior boys’ 4x100m relay.

In his first ever ESAA championships Will ran the race of his life to smash his PB but missed the final by the narrowest of margins.

Making his debut at the ESAA championships young talent Tom Hewson was looking to build on a superb season where he had established himself as the UK ranked number one junior boys’ javelin thrower.

Hewson qualified with a tremendous performance at the County Championships back in May, with a huge throw of 49.26m, taking gold and securing him the UK number one ranking.

At Gateshead, Tom opened with a sensational throw of 48.07m, setting the standard for close UK rivals Max Law and Isaac Hay to follow.

Tom fought to replicate the form that had secured him his ranking and came extremely close, only to be eclipsed by a throw from Law of 50.25m.

Taking silver on his debut was a major success for a dedicated athlete who is destined for higher honours.

Tom will go all out at the EA National Championships at Bedford in August with a focus on regaining his number one status.

In the senior girls’ discus, multithrower Evie Wilcox was looking to build on her previous successes, with this being her fifth appearance at the Championships.

Currently ranked sixth in the UK rankings Evie faced some of best throwers in the country.

Following her performance at the EA U20/23 National Championships where she threw an all-time best of 42.62m, Evie had her sights firmly set on taking honours at Gateshead.

Although managing a solid throw of 38.96m, this was not enough to secure a podium place, with UK ranked number two, Georgie Taylor, throwing 47.45m.

Evie will undoubtedly come back to the Championships to take further honours.