TRACK & field team manager John Webster has paid tribute to the Team Bath’s athletes who helped deliver one of the most successful summers in the club’s history.

Speaking at the annual awards evening Webster highlighted in particular the success of the U15 and U13 athletes in securing promotion into the Premier Division of the UK Youth Development League.

In the local Avon League, which represents all age groups in the club from seniors to U13s, Team Bath went one better than 2016 to lift the league title after a stupendous effort in the final match which it won with a record number of points.

“This has been one of the most successful seasons this club has had in recent years and to gain promotion to the top league and win the Avon League in the same season was testament to the strength in depth of the club and to the skill and competitiveness of its athletes,” said Webster, who lives near Malmesbury.

“With a pool of talent much envied across the region, we were able to build on the team spirit, camaraderie and hard work of last year.

“The will to win was infectious and drove the team to the well-deserved successes it achieved.”

Among the individual highlights, Trowbridge high jumper Tom Gale stood out with his bronze at the European Junior Championships, then went on to take part in the Diamond League before earning selection for the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane.

Southwick sprint hurdler Zoe Mattacks won selection into the England team this summer.

In terms of league points scored, Hilperton twins John and Robert Howorth claimed first and third place in the U20 men’s group with fellow St Augustine’s School student Adam Gordon squeezed in-between. Gordon’s younger brother James also featured prominently in the U15s age group.

Other leading scorers included Devizes School student Will Scammell (U15s), Sheldon School’s Femi Akinbobola (U17s), St Laurence students and siblings Anna (U17s) and Dominic Murray (U17s) and Trowbridge’s Caitlin Mander (2nd, U13s).

Guest of honour at the awards ceremony held at the University’s Sports Training Village was Paralympian gold medallist and three-times World champion T36 middle distance runner Paul Blake.

2017 athlete awards – most points scored – Masters women: 1 Jo Lumb 96; 2 Louise Jeffries 70; 3 Char Burkey 31.

U20 women: 1 Sarah Long 177; 2 Jessie Davies 70; 3 Caitlin Wosika 58.

U17 women: 1 Anna Murray 130; 2 Jenna Blundell 115; 3 Robyn Ellison 86.

U13 girls: 1 Eleni Francis 198; 2 Caitlin Mander 159 3 Josie Rucker 129.

U15 girls: 1 Imogen Leakey 212; 2 Eleanor Webster 199; 3 Ellie Mount 153.

Masters Men: 1 Ian Long 45; 2 Imam Qasi 41; 3 Martyn Morant 14.

U20 men: 1 John Howorth 105; 2 Adam Gordon 72; 3 Robert Howorth 66.

U17 men: 1 Femi Akinbobola 147; 2 Jonny Evans 117; 3 Joseph Keane 72.

U15 boys: 1 Will Scammell 207; 2 Ben Game 194; 3 James Gordon 120.

U13 boys: 1 Dominic Murray 265; 2 Luke Games 192; 3 Joseph Andrews 135.