PLYMSTOCK CLUB NETS FOUR-FIGURE CASH WINDFALL

07:30 - 04 January 2008

A new athletics club for youngsters in Plymstock has received a £7,000 windfall.

The New Satellite Athletics Club is just three months old - was given the cash by the National Lottery.

It has blossomed from being just The club, a satellite of Plymstock Road Runners, and has already scooped a 22-medal haul in a major competition.

And the majority of its young athletes, aged eight to 13, are set to represent Devon.

Lead coach Nigel Evans, formerly at Plymouth Athletics Club, said the new club, based at Sir John Hunt Community Sports College, was spending the cash on new sports equipment and costs associated with training.

He said: "We've been really pleased with the way it's grown, although without Sir John Hunt letting us use their sports hall, it wouldn't have happened.

"I and the other coaches started the club because there was nothing for young athletes in this part of the city.

"When we started, we had six members and now we've got more than 30."

Evans said that the club had also achieved the England Athletics Club Mark accreditation.

He added: "In November, our then 20-strong athletic squad went to Dawlish for the County Championships and came back with 10 golds, five silvers and seven bronzes.

"More recently, we have had letters to hand out to the athletes from the Devon team manager, who has selected his teams for this year.

"I am proud to say that more than half of our club are representing the county at the forthcoming Fun in Athletics competition to be held at Torbay Leisure Centre at Paignton on January 19."

Evans paid tribute to people who had got the club off the ground - and said he hoped it would expand to take in under-16s.

He said: "None of this would happen without the support of the coaches and the club involvement.

"We have recently gained more coaches from the courses that they have done voluntarily, with financial support from the Plymstock Road Runners."

Evans added: "We hope to expand our numbers in the New year with the successes that we have already had. We've already spent £5,500 on indoor equipment - I was initially surprised at how fast the money came through, but I think people realised that there was something good going on here.