Furze Platt boy leaps to gold in national long-jump competition

A sporting schoolboy has won a national championship for the long-jump.

Elliot Thorne travelled to Sheffield for the England under-15 indoor athletics championship on Sunday.

The 14-year-old struck gold in the long-jump event, recording a distance of 6.21 metres. He also came sixth in the hurdles.

Elliot, a year nine pupil at Furze Platt Senior School, said four of his six jumps at the event in South Yorkshire's English Institute of Sport were over six metres, which he admits is 'pretty hard to do.'

But he is targeting further distances during the summer season when he can compete outside.

Elliot, who lives in Queensway, said: "With a little bit of wind behind me, a bit fitter, and with good weather I believe I can go a lot further."

He trains with Adding Value with Atlethics at Thames Valley Athletics Centre, Eton, three times a week and with Slough Junior Athletics Club on Saturday mornings.

His mum Kathy, who was once in the national squad for gymnastics, said Elliot is also a keen footballer, swimmer and rugby player who has 'sport in his genes'.