Hemmings is the latest Burton talent to earn England place

ATHLETICS: Burton's Henry Hemmings has been selected for the England Athletics Club Youth Talent programme.

- GRAHAM LAMB

He is the seventh Burton Athletics Club member to be selected in the last four years.

The programme is open to athletes in education who are in the first year of the sixth form. Selection is based on rankings and performance in championships.

Hemmings was fourth in the 800 metres in the England Schools Championship and then silver medallist in the England Under-17 championships. He is ranked 14th in his age group in the event with a best of 1.53.81, which set a club record.

Hemmings achieved the selection to this programme within 16 months of his first race.

His first 800-metre race had been at a school's competition at Shobnall, where his fast finish had caught the eye of Burton's endurance coach, Graham Lamb, as he won in 2.24.

He was invited to train at the club and soon joined. Within three months he had run under two minutes for the 800 metres and won the Midland Under-17 800 metres championships.

In club action, 28 Burton athletes travelled to Sutton Park for the England Road Relays.