THROWING phenomenon Alan Plumb has smashed a Pendle AC club record that has stood for more than 30 years with a mighty effort at Blackburn’s Witton Park.

Over the past few years, the 33-year-old has blossomed into one of the county’s top performers in the shot put, hammer and discus.

The shot has proved Plumb’s major strength and, last month, he was crowned Lancashire men’s champion for the first time with a throw of 11.47m.

He has now achieved new heights in the discipline by recording an outstanding 12.47m at Saturday’s Mid Lancs Track and Field meeting, smashing Pendle’s long-standing previous best of 12.14m set by Frank Powell in 1980.

The only older record on the club’s books is Mark Ashworth’s 100m from 1979.

It was a distance that came out of the blue for the former Burnley AC member, given that it added almost 80 centimetres to his previous best of 11.75m which he posted in Greater Manchester last August.

Plumb was out on his own at Witton Park for the second of this season’s Mid Lancs meetings, with no-one else beating 10m in the shot put, Hyndburn’s Russell Race second with 9.99m.

He also comfortably took gold in the discus competition with a throw of 30.08m, and he launched the hammer 32.71m, his best effort of the year, to take silver behind Blackpool Wyre’s Dave Shaw.

Pendle enjoyed a successful day elsewhere as they picked up a glut of medals across all categories.

Zac Child continued their dominance in the men’s senior throwing events with gold in the javelin, while Neng Wildman won the under 17 men’s 100m and 200m races.

Matthew Dutton won the under 17 shot put, while Tiarnan Croken came third in the under 15 1500m event.

Daemon Metcalfe finished third in the under 15 boys high jump, with James Marchant taking silver in the javelin and Dillon Boardman taking third in the hammer for the same age group.

Pendle’s Joe Lonsdale won the under 13 boys 100m in 13.8 seconds and also took gold in the 200m in a time of 28.9 seconds.

Leah Hillman dominated the under 15 category with gold in the discus, javelin and shot put.

Hyndburn also enjoyed a successful meet with Stephen Sumner taking a double in the men’s 100m and 200m and Jason Conchie racing to victory in the 400m.

Their under 13 boys win the 4x100m relay, with Caroline Smithson and Sarah Langton taking gold and silver in the senior javelin competition.

Hyndburn’s Marnie Shirtcliffe won the under 17 shot put. Blackburn Harriers and Ribble Valley athletics also enjoyed notable successes.