Last updated 09:47, Friday, 18 July 2008

PONTELAND High School student Tim Parkin really hit the heights at this year’s English Schools Athletics Championships.

For Tim outjumped all of his competitors to become national champion in the intermediate pole vault at the event, held on Saturday July 12 at Gateshead International Stadium.

The event, which is the largest sporting competition in the UK organised by volunteers, is regarded as a launch-pad for athletics stars of the future, and was televised by Sky.

The Ponteland High youngster’s gold for jumping a personal best outdoors of four metres 40 centimetres at this year’s event topped the silver medal he won with a height of three metres 20 centimetres in 2006 and the bronze he carried off last year after reaching three metres 95 centimetres.

Tim is ranked number one pole vaulter in the country in his under 17 age group, and trains 12 hours every week to stay at the top.

He has represented his school and Northumberland at area and county championship levels.

His sporting prowess led last year to his selection by the Youth Sport Trust on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Children.

His role under the Young Ambassadors scheme, set up in 2006, is to spread the Olympic message and encourage other young people to live a healthy lifestyle.

Tim said: “Living healthily is really important for young people, and participating in sport is a good preparation for life.”

He is aiming to build on his success over the next couple of years by representing his country in a UK vest. “Who knows, maybe I’ll even make it to the London Olympics,” he added.

Headteacher of Ponteland High School, Stephen Prandle, said: “Tim works hard at his sport, and everyone at the school congratulates him on this latest honour.”