AN ambitious Wiltshire sprint hurdler has just been given an encouraging endorsement from former world 110m hurdles record holder Colin Jackson.

Jackson is the greatest sprint hurdler ever to come out of Britain – not to mention the global stage - and in a glittering career won an Olympic silver medal, became world champion twice, World indoor champion once, went undefeated at the European Championships for 12 years and was a two-time Commonwealth champion.

In addition his world record of 12.91 seconds for the 110m hurdles stood for over a decade.

So when Jackson, now well known for his athletics commentary work on BBC TV, posted a supportive comment on Joe Collins’ Instagram feed after the 16-year-old Chippenham 100m hurdler uploaded a photo of himself in action at the Youth Development League match in Cheltenham on Sunday, the news quickly spread.

“I put a photo of me taken by Graham Mattacks hurdling on Saturday on Instagram and Colin Jackson commented on it,” said Collins.

“He wrote ‘good technique’ with a thumbs-up sign! I was really shocked.

“I’m just a new kid in the event, nothing special and all of the athletes he could have commented upon he chose me.

“To have someone like Colin Jackson, a former world record holder, comment on my technique is just amazing. It is just crazy.”

Collins, who is a student at Sheldon School, is a member of Team Bath AC but on Sunday was representing the composite Team Avon squad in the U20/17 competition.

He has been carefully nurtured by coach Julie Alexander after suffering a tendon injury last year and is now starting to reap the benefits of a solid winter of rehab.

“I ran the 400m flat first and then later the 100m hurdles by which time my legs were a little tight,” added Collins.

“Nonetheless, I still ran a personal best of 14.00secs which is a qualifying time for the English Schools’ Championships. I have only done a couple of hurdles competitions so far so I am hoping by the end of the season to be running 13 seconds something.”

Other A winners for Team Bath at Cheltenham included fellow Sheldon School student Louis Torto in the U20 men’s 200m in 22.4secs.

Marshfield-based Themis Bower won the U20 men’s B 800m in 2.03.5 and there were B event wins for Sheldon School’s Jake Burkey (U20 men’s long jump with 6.43) and Femi Akimbobola (U17 men’s 100 m hurdles in 15.1).