THE Ricketts brothers Josh and Harry both made the podium at the South West Schools’ Track & Field Championships – but are now waiting nervously to hear whether they will be team-mates for the national championships next month, writes KEVIN FAHEY.

Wiltshire will announce their team later this week and ironically older brother Josh is more nervous about whether he will make the cut despite adding the South West Schools’ senior boys’ hammer title to his county crown won the week before.

“Hopefully I will make the team but the English Schools’ entry standard is 52 metres and my best this season is 47.58m,” said Josh.

“But of those who can go to the English Schools’ I think only eight or so have thrown that entry standard so we will see.”

In his favour the 17-year-old Ridgeway School student broke the senior boys’ county record in the hammer the previous weekend with a winning throw of 46.40m and he is a consistent thrower.

In contrast, 14-year-old younger brother Harry has been throwing over the junior boys’ qualifying standard all summer and he did so again at Exeter as he won the bronze medal with a mark of 39.97m.

Harry’s top throw this season of 47.34m also puts him second in the UK rankings for U15 boys and at his best he is a genuine medal contender for Wiltshire so his place in the team looks secure.

“Harry was quite happy with that and has been over the standard every competition this year,” added Josh.

“I would be gutted if I didn’t go. I went to the English Schools’ last year (he finished 16th in the inter boys’ competition) and I think I am throwing better this summer.

“But if I don’t go this year then I’ll definitely be there next year when I’ll be top of my age group.”

Fellow Harriers’ clubmate and sprinter Delleah Belgrave was another medal winner at the Exeter Arena.

The Lydiard Park School student, who won both the junior girls’ 200m and the long jump at the county championships, added bronze in the South West with a sparkling personal best of 26.59secs.

That shaved 0.18secs off her previous best set at the end of last month and while unfortunately the following wind was just over the legal limit at 2.4m that shouldn’t detract from a fine performance by the Tony Jackson coached athlete.

In his first appearance in the event Matt Smith showed just how much he has improved this season over the 400m as the 16-year-old Ridgeway School student from The Lawn improved his personal best for the fourth time this summer.

Smith shaved 0.03secs off his previous time to win the bronze medal in the inter boys’ 400m with a time of 52.68secs, arguably the best result of his season to date.

Like Smith, Ben McIntyre is also coached by Kevin Buttle at the Harriers and he claimed a superb win in the inter boys’ 1500m steeplechase. Running in the colours of Gloucestershire as he is at school in the county McIntyre clocked his second fastest time of 4mins 42.86secs, just over a second off his best, to improve from fourth place last year.

It also puts him top of the South West rankings and 11th in the UK so McIntyre is a strong contender to make the Gloucestershire squad for the nationals next month.

South West Schools; Track & Field Championships, Exeter Arena – Senior boys - 800: 2 Robert Howorth (W) 1:56.32; 1500: 1 John Howorth (W) 4:01.81; 3000: 3 Max Davis (A) 9:03.00; LJ: 1 Jake Burkey (W) 6.90 (+2.0w); TJ: 3 Kieran Short (W) 12.43; HT: 1 Josh Ricketts (W) 46.40.

Inter boys –200 (+2.9w): 1 Femi Akinbobola (W) 22.91 (hts 22.71 +2.7w); 400: 3 Matt Smith (W) 52.68; 800: 3 Ellery Cole (W) 2:04.42; 100H: 2 Peter Adeosun (W) 14.26; 3 Will Scammell (W) 14.41; 1500 S/C: 1 Ben McIntyre (G) 4:42.86; 4x100m relay: 3 Wiltshire 46.02; Jav: 1 Thomas Holmes (W) 59.86.

Junior boys – 100 (+0.9w): 2 O Henry (W) 11.63; 200 (+2.6w): 3 Lanre Alli (W) 24.02; 800: 1 Robert Jones (W) 2:07.10; SP: 2 Mikael Evloev (W) 11.89; 2 Evloev 34.25; HT: 1 Will Compton (G) 44.72; 2 James Viner (W) 41.95; 3 Harry Ricketts (W) 39.97; 4 Owen Merrett (W) 39.56.

Senior girls - 100H (+5.0w): 1 Jenna Blundell (A) 14.17; 1500: 3 Jade Littlechild (W) 4:48.69; 1500S/C: 1 Caitlin Wosika (A) 5:18.27; DT: 3 Georgia Pickford (W) 31.43.

Inter girls –HJ: 1 Molly Hole (W) 1.69; SP: 1 Hole 12.69; LJ: 1 Gabrielle Kirkham (W) 5.35; DT: 1 Anna Merritt (W) 37.93; HT: 1 Merritt 50.02.

Junior girls – 200: 3 Delleah Belgrave (W) 26.59; 75H (+2.0w): 3 Willa Gibb (W) 11.23; 300: 1 Ophelia Pye (W) 43.32 (hts 42.88); 1500: 1 Bea Wood (W) 4:28.78 (CBP); SP: 1 Georgia Clarke (W) 10.63; Jav: 1 Megan Galpin (W) 40.11; HT: 3 Jolie Littlejohns (W) 25.02.