A TALENTED young athlete did the region proud when she competed against youngsters a year older than herself in a national contest.
Ashley Maddison took part in the year nine discus event at the All England school athletics championships last week - despite still being a year eight student. The 13 year-old expected the national meet to be little more than practice for 2003 yet she managed to finish eighth overall.
Ashley, of Parkside, Spennymoor, is so far ahead of her own year group she stormed to victory in the district, county and northern rounds with throws around seven metres more than the qualifying distances.
Ashley, a pupil at Tudhoe Grange Comprehensive, said: "I didn't expect to finish anywhere near the top ten, it has given me extra confidence for next year's competition when hopefully I'll be there again."
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