Charlotte in line for top honour

NEWBURY Athletic Club star thrower Charlotte Payne is on a short list of three for the title of Young Deaf Sports Personality of the Year to be presented at the Emirates Stadium on November 12.

The 14-year old has enjoyed a remarkable season, which saw her top the top the Power of 10 ratings in the discus with a throw of 39.30 metres, more than two metres ahead of her nearest rival.

That sealed the national discus title in her age group, to add to the South of England titles for discus and hammer, in which she is third in the Power of 10s with a best throw of 55.41 metres.

She also holds the South of England Inter County Championship record in the discipline.

Although nominated as a deaf athlete, she competes in mainstream events and has scored a massive array of victories over the season in her specialised events.

Her England Athletics discus title came at Bedford in August and followed the area and local successes in the West Berkshire and Berkshire Schools titles and she ended her summer campaign by winning the Portsmouth Shot and Hammer Festival last month.