ATHLETES from Yate have helped team Avon qualify for a National Final in Bedford to take place in September.

The team finished second at the Regional Final of the Upper Age Group Youth Development league in Newport.

The athletes had to contend with poor weather conditions which caused some disruption.

The Pole vault was cancelled, due to the high wind, so all the pole vaulters set to and filled spaces in the team. Liam Hiller, for example, had a go at the hurdles and scored valuable points for the team.

Jodie Dale, who was on holiday in Scotland with her family and was driven down by her father, competed in shot and discus as well as her favourite javelin.

She Won the javelin with a new personal best of 35.47metres and then the two of them set off back to Scotland.

One of the standout performances of the day came from Adam Brooks in the high jump. He cleared 2.01 metres for the first time, a clear twenty-five centimetres clear of the rest of the field.

Toby Conibear, who'shaving a fine season, threw the hammer 57.94 metres, better than his coach, Matt Spicer, had achieved at that age. Matt was the first to congratulate him. Toby then set off on a deserved break with his family in Devon.

Other Yate winners came from Abdi Hasan in the 800 metres, Greg Hayward in the B 1500 metres, Rhiannon Paton also in the 1500 metres, and

Emily Whitaker in the 1500m steeplechase.

Nathaniel Mitchell has found his ideal event in the 400 metres. Although he is still under-17, he competed here as an under-20 and finished second with 52.54 seconds. He then contributed to an Avon win in the 4x400 metre relay.

The under-17 4x400 metre relay saw three Yate athletes in action: Liam Hillier, Isaac Cory and Abdi Hasan came home in second place.

It was an afternoon to remember for athletes and team managers, but not so much for the officials who ended up getting wet.