WORCESTER Athletic Club members enjoyed a bumper medal haul at the Worcestershire County Championships.

Club captain Andy Poppleton took the first medal of the day in Stourport with victory in the 400 metre hurdles.

Poppleton set a new personal best time of 57.7 seconds which was good enough to qualify for the AAA National Championships.

It set the tone as Worcester recorded 11 golds, eight silvers and four bronze medals.

Minutes later, Edwin Elmhirst sealed his gold medal with a personal best jump of 1.70m in the under 17 high jump competition.

Jenny White and Tom Newman also took the honours in their high jump events with jumps of 1.35m and 1.25m respectively.

In the sandpit, Genevieve Byers and Andrew Reid made the most of the favourable wind to take the championship titles.

Byers produced a splendid jump of 4.33m in the under 13 long jump and Reid took the under 15 triple jump crown with a leap of 7.95m.

On the track, rising club star Sam Mitchell maintained his winning start to the season with a fine race in the under 20 3,000m.

Battling against strong head-winds in the back straight, Mitchell sprinted clear with 150m to go to win in a time of nine minutes 02.9 seconds.

Matthew Watts, competing in the second of his three events of the day, produced a devastating sprint finish in the under 13 800m to win by a big margin in 2-30.6.

Anna and Michael Simmonds both took victories in the 400m, despite the strong winds.

Michael won the under 17 title in a superb time of 52.0 seconds and Anna, who normally competes over 800m, took the under 20 race, equalling her personal best of 57.7 seconds.

The final gold medal of the day went to club men's team manager Jim Cowell in the senior men's javelin competition.

A throw of 48.67m in the first round was enough to seal victory and cap a superb day for the club.

Other results, second places: Byers (U13, 100m, 13.8; U13, 200m, 29.4), Jessica Rushall (U13, long jump, 3.56m), Tom Allen (U13, 200m, 28.9), Matthew Watts (U13, long jump, 3.92m; U13, javelin, 20.36m), White (U15, 200m, 27.0), Sam Rushall (U17, long jump, 5.70m), Elmhirst (U17, 800m, 2-17.8); third places: Rushall (U13, 100m, 14.8), Allen (U13, long jump, 3.78m), Joe Sliwa (U15, long jump, 3.93m), Mandy Clarke (senior ladies, 3km walk, 22-18).

Anyone interested in track and field athletics can call Jim Cowell on 07739-385162 or e-mail worcesterac@yahoo.co.uk