St Benedict’s School athlete Aaron Holliday has qualified for the English Schools competition – after a superb showing with the hammer.

The youngster was one of six pupils from the school to impress at the Northern Schools’ Track and Field Championships in Gateshead, competing for Copeland and Cumbria.

Schools from all the Northern Counties took part in the event on Saturday with students from Cleveland, Durham and Northumberland, as well as Cumbria.

The six athletes from St Benedict’s had all came either first or second in the County Championships to qualify, with the top two representing Cumbria.

Aaron came first in the hammer and earned his invite to the English Schools event in July. Aaron has previously been crowned world champion in the World Hammer Decathlon Championships back in October last year.

He is no stranger to the sport, being part of Copeland Athletics Club, and competing for Team North Cumbria, as well as Cumbria Schools.

Dylan Robinson and Bethan Parr both came third in the javelin event while Eve Riley (county champion), Ebony Blackwell and Finlay Starkie (county champion) all raced well in the 800m.

Miss Powe, Head of PE at St Benedict’s School, said: “Our students all gave 100 per cent while wearing the Cumbria vest. This is a great achievement for them all.”