JUNIOR members of Bromsgrove and Redditch AC kicked off their track and field season with some impressive displays at the Midlands Championships at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham.

Joshua Pearson was the youngest athlete to take part. The 11-year-old competed in the under-13s age category, finishing third overall in his four-event programme which included winning the 60 metres (1st, 8.39 seconds), shot put (11th, 4.80m), high jump (4th, 1.27m) and long jump (3rd, 4.30m).

In the under-17 men’s competition, Andrew Pearson placed third in his 400m heat with a time of 57.76 and ran the same time in the final for fifth.

In the under-20 men’s age group, Simeon Clarence finished second in his 400m heat with a time of 51.0 as well as clinching third in the long jump with a jump of 6.17m.

Dewi Hammond was runner-up in the 60m in 7.0 behind Taunton athlete Ronnie Wells, who also beat him in the final despite improving to 6.92.

In the senior men’s competition, there were third places heat finishes for Thomas Russell (200m, 23.99) and David Mould (400m, 51.66s), while Richard O’Connor was fourth in the shot put with 8.51m.

The ladies competition saw Candy Lockett finish third in the shot put with a throw of 8.55m and Jessica Bennett finished sixth in the 60m hurdles (10.45) and fifth in the 60m heat (8.75) — both girls competing in the under-15 age category.

In the under-17s, Rebekah Miller was fourth in her 60m heat (8.42) and third in the 200m heat (27.29).

Izzy Billau placed third in the under-20s triple-jump with a leap of 10.94m and Jo Frost took second in the senior women’s long jump with 5.34m.