ROBERT Howorth has been forced to delay the end of his season after playing a big part in qualifying for the National Finals of the Youth Development League (YDL) Upper Age Under 20/17 competition.

The 18-year-old, from Hilperton, clinched an impressive 800m and 1,500m double before joining younger brother Rory and Chippenham’s Femi Akinbobola to clinch a brilliant win over Birchfield Harriers in the 4x400m relay.

Howorth and his Wiltshire clubmates had temporarily switched allegiance from Team Bath AC to the composite Team Avon outfit, which is drawn from Bristol & West AC, Team Bath AC and Yate & District AC to form one strong side for the Under 20/17 age group competition.

His maximum points played a part in Team Avon finishing second in the fourth and final match at a wet and blustery Newport Stadium on Sunday to secure their place in the final fixture in Bedford on September 9.

“It was a really good day and it is the first time since I have been competing in the YDL that I have qualified for the national finals,” said Robert.

“Sunday was going to be my last competition of the season but I’ll come back for the finals after taking a week off.

"I am really looking forward to that as we will be up against some of the top clubs in the country.”

The individual races were hard-won victories for Howorth as he dipped on the line to edge out Team Devon & Cornwall’s Lewis Cotterill to win the 800m, having already beaten the same rival in the 1,500m.

“I had already won the 1,500m so was not expecting him (Cotterill) to be challenging again,” added Robert.

“In the 800m, I kicked hard with 200m to go and quickly opened up a lead of a couple of metres. Coming down the home straight, I tried to relax to save some energy for the relay then suddenly there was a lot of shouting and with 50 metres to go he was on my shoulder.

“I had to dig deep and kick again and just managed to hold him off but it was close.”

For good measure Rory stepped up an age group to win the 1,500m B race and split the A pair with a time of 4mins 25.55secs and then added vital points with third place in the U17 men’s high jump and fourth in the shot. Then came that exciting relay win.

Malmesbury’s Eleanor Webster won the U17 women’s 300m hurdles to back up her second place in the 800m, while Hardenhuish School student India Ibbotson raced well to win the B 800m.

In the field, Gabriella Holt was runner-up in the U20s hammer, and there were also second places for Robyn Ellison in the long jump and Renee Jelf in the high jump, while Sophie Martin was third in the U17s high jump.

Chippenham’s Jake Burkey had a productive day with second place in the U20 men’s long jump and two third places in the 110m hurdles and javelin.

In addition to his relay duties, Akinbobola won the U17 men’s 200m, while Southwick’s Joel Mattacks was third in the U20s 400m hurdles.

Trowbridge athlete Marin Olech kept up his good form with wins in the U20s long jump and triple jump B events and Devizes School’s Will Scammell was runner-up in the U17s B 400m and third in the 100m hurdles.