A teenage hammer-throwing sensation hopes his power and skill can help him follow in the footsteps of fellow Cumbrian and Olympian Nick Miller.

After dipping his toe in the water last year, competing in some competitions to finish ranked 102nd in the UK in the under-15s age group with a personal best of 26.75 metres, Aaron Holliday has come on in leaps and bounds this year.

His opening throw of the season saw him smash his PB by a whopping 12m, throwing at Grade Three standard and hitting the qualifying distance for English Schools.

The St Benedict’s School pupil’s latest success came at the European Hammer Decathlon in Derby where he was crowned under-15s champion after throwing 10 different weights from 2kg to 12.88kg.

He has also been named Cumbria County Champion, Cumbria Schools County Champion, Northern Interschools Champion, Northern Athletics Champion, Scottish National Champion and was an English Schools finalist as the only scoring Cumbrian male.

The 14-year-old, from Whitehaven, has finished the season ranked 10th in the UK on the Power of 10 rankings and won 18 of his 19 competitions this year.

He now aims to build on his successful season with a view to emulating Miller – who clinched a Commonwealth Games gold medal last year – by building towards an Olympics appearance.

Aaron’s dad Paul Holliday said: “We are so proud of Aaron and his achievements this season.

“He is dedicated and committed to his training and loves to compete.”

Holliday, who started throwing for Copeland Athletics Club but transferred to Carlisle Aspatria Athletics Club, trains twice a week with coach John Little.

This season he also qualified as one of the country’s youngest Level One field officials and put his skills to work at the English Schools finals before competing the next day.

Lisa Powe, head of PE at St Benedict’s School, added: “Hard work and dedication pays off and Aaron deserves huge congratulations on a brilliant season.”