BASINGSTOKE and Mid Hants Athletics Club's younger athletes performed exceptionally at the Alder Valley Girls meeting in Bracknell with wins and personal bests particularly among the under-11 age group, many of whom were on their debuts.

There was success for Millie Coleman, Milly Dedman, Izabel Brown, Ruby Hanvey Meyer among others.

Together the club’s team clocked up 49 lifetime bests, with three league best performances for 2018 Ayomide Cole (under-15) in the 200m and 300m and Catherine Edwards (under-17) 200m.

In the England National Championships, Ben Pattison won gold for 400m in the under-20 category, up against athletes two years old than him.

His incredible performance earned him selection for the European under-18 Championships next month in Hungary. He is ranked number two in Europe in his age group and is a serious medal hope for Great Britain.

Mair Edwards also earned international selection for Great Britain Juniors at the Mannheim Athletics Gala.

Last Saturday, the under-17 and senior athletes were in action in Portsmouth in the Southern Athletics league, competing against Newbury, Walton and the hosts.

This was a closely fought contest with just one point separating three teams at the half way stage.

It was the Basingstoke team that came out on top winning by a margin of just half a point over Portsmouth.

The clubs top under-20 decathletes were also in action at the weekend, competing in Oyonnax, France in the French National Championships.

Nicolas Gerome finished in fourth place with a personal best score of 7,257 points, a new club record for Junior Men.

This week the club hosts the Southern Counties Veterans league where athletes aged between 35 and 75 will compete on the track and field, and like all matches where the club competes, there will be a team of highly qualified volunteer officials on hand to ensure it runs smoothly.

These results and activities just give a taste of some of the success and demonstrates the club’s inclusiveness - welcoming of all ages and abilities with successes at all levels being celebrated.