RISING star Jacob Roberts ended his season in style by breaking another Blackburn Harriers club record.

The ever-improving young hammer thrower wrote his name into the Harriers’ history books at the Wrexham Final Fling competition in North Wales.

Roberts, 16, from Darwen, came second in the under-17s men’s 5kg competition with a fantastic personal best of 61.27m.

That hauled him up to seventh in the UK rankings for his age group, as he the smashed the UK 60m target, and ensured he broke the club record once more.

Roberts, who has been throwing only since May 2013, and has had to overcome injuries this season, also had a go at the 6kg hammer for the first time, finishing second again in the under-20s men’s competition with an impressive 49.60m.

The Darwen Aldridge Community Academy student, who has added nearly 20m to his best throw in the last year, said: “I was overwhelmed when my fifth throw was measured at 61.27m, giving me another club record and moving myself up to seventh the in UK rankings.

“I would again like to thank all at the club who have given me well wishes and encouragement this season, especially when injured at beginning of the season.”

Roberts paid special praise to his coaches Michael Hitchon, father of Olympic hammer throw Sophie, and Ian Vickery.

Hitchon and Vickery also have two more highly promising hammer throwers, Charlotte Williams and Rebecca Orrell, under their wing.

Williams is currently fifth in the under-15s women’s UK rankings and, like Roberts, has achieved the UK target, with Orrell ninth in the UK under-20s women’s rankings.

n Robert Walsh led the way for Chorley Athletic and Triathlon Club in the Rivington Trail Half Marathon, the 11th event of their Grand Prix Series, finishing 15th in 1 hour, 30 minutes and 15 seconds.

He was followed by Tim Johnstone (20th in 1hr 33mins 4secs), Martin Quinn (34th in 1hr 37mins 30secs) Dave Kershaw (39th in 1hr 38mins 3secs), Jon Mattock (60th in 1hr 41mins 35secs), Bill Beckett (118th in 1hr 48mins 29secs), Paul Wareing (121st in 1hr 48mins 53secs), Paul Jackson (132nd in 1hr 49mins 51secs), David Miller (157th in 1hr 53mins 7secs), Andy Lowe (201st in 1hr 57mins 59secs), Stephen Baker (315th in 2hrs 14mins 35secs) and Phil McCullagh (333rd in 2hrs 17mins 14secs).