Sunday saw young athletes from Waveney Valley AC flourishing at the UEA Sportspark in the Norfolk County Sportshall Championships.

Around 120 athletes aged eight to 15 competed in two, four and six-lap races on the track, with two-lap hurdles in addition for the under-11s, and long and triple jump, vertical jump, speedbounce, shot put and chest push in the field. Each athlete was permitted to compete in their choice of up to four events.

Waveney’s athletes recorded a host of personal bests, with a few club records broken, and came away with seven gold medals and 10 silver or bronze medals.

In the under-11 boys events, Finn Howes won the two-lap hurdles with a fine dip over the line, with Tom Spurgeon also making the final.

Joel Burgess comfortably won the four-lap race, and also recorded a new club record with 5.28m in the triple jump.

Theo Hudson had a remarkable day, taking gold in the long jump with 1.82m, gold in the chest push with 6.75m and silver in the javelin with 18.25m, a new best. He also made the final in the two-lap, finishing fourth from 24 athletes.

In the girls events, Abeni Beckham smashed her personal bests and club records, taking golds in the triple jump with 6.05m and javelin with 16.50m. She also made the final in the four-lap and two-lap hurdles finishing fourth (of 14) and fifth (of 22) respectively.

Shamara Hammonds also made the final in the two-lap hurdles claiming a bronze and also taking a bronze in the two-lap final against a field of 24.

In the under-13 events, Callum Hopson won gold in the speedbounce with 75 jumps in 30s, with Tai Elvin-Andrews taking a bronze for 71 jumps. He also took a bronze in the six-lap race, narrowly missing a further bronze in the four-lap, finishing fourth. For the girls, Harriet Gooch claimed third and in the shot with a throw of 6.41m, with Mia Hopson also taking a bronze in the four-lap, and reaching the two-lap final where she finished fifth from 20.

Along with Naomi Boots, she also recorded bests in the triple jump, and Naomi in the Speedbounce with 69 jumps.

With no under-15 girls from Waveney, it was left to the boys against some of last year’s national champions. Mason Hodds took silver in the shot with the final throw of the competition measuring 9.81m for a new best and club record, with Aidan Hewitt and Leon Cousins also registering bests, the latter also taking a bronze in the long jump with a leap of 2.33m for another best. Aidan Hewitt matched Mason and Leon by taking a bronze in the four-lap, and making the final in the two-lap along with Mason finishing sixth and fifth respectively.

The club’s athletes are now awaiting selection for the Suffolk county team for the regional competition which takes place in March.

Before then, attention turns to the cross-country events at Stowmarket, Bungay and Bury St Edmunds.

The club is open to new members, contact Michaela on 0794 1423244 or visit www.waveneyvalley.org.