Sophie Hitchon has broken the UK record for the Under-17 women's hammer at the Costello Stadium in Hull.

Competing in the prestigious Kingston Open in front of guest commentator Paul Dickinson from BBC Television, the Pendle athlete produced the throw of the day achieving 49.61 metres for the four kilogram weight.

The previous record had stood since 2001. It was a triumph of her spirit after the sudden death of her coach and the loss of local facilities.

The 15-year-old only started to compete seriously in late 2005 after an earlier interest in ballet and tap dance, and although she reached Grade 6 level in dance, she figured her athletic physique might be more suited to sprinting and putting the shot.

She won the Lancashire Schools' shot last summer but also took up the hammer last April, and started to travel to Edge Hill in October to train in both disciplines under Meric Bousfield.

Tragically Bousfield collapsed and died during a training session just as Sophie was about to enter the cage and she was understandably traumatised.

Fortunately, she had been selected for the Regional Training Squad and that gave her the opportunity to continue her development over the winter months with the area's top athletes at Sports City in Manchester.

For this season she has signed as a second claim member for Sale Harriers and will compete in the National Junior (Under 20) League for them.

That will allow her to remain a member of Pendle, but at the same time will access a higher level of competition.

Training facilities remain a problem with the throws cages at both Pendle and Burnley being unfit for use. Recently she has returned to Edge Hill, and she is also training regularly with Blackburn Harrier Sarah Henton at Witton Park.

Tremendous dedication, not only by Sophie but also from her father Michael, who coaches and does the driving, will be needed to pursue her ambition but clearly Sophie Hitchon is not lacking in willpower.

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