BRADFORD on Avon youngster Lauren Robinson is looking forward to taking on some of the country’s best youngsters at this weekend’s ESAA (English Schools Athletics Association) National Championships – less than a year after she first took up pole vault.

The 15-year-old, a pupil at St Laurence School, began her sporting life as an artistic gymnast and competed at national level for the City of Bristol club.

But a back injury picked up in training meant that she was forced to call time on her gymnastics career.

Pole vault was recommended to Robinson by strength and conditioning coach Dan Cossins, who also coaches Trowbridge sprint star Danny Talbot.

A few months later she has earned a spot representing Wiltshire in the Inter girls competition at Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium this weekend.

“I hurt my back last September but my personal trainer told me that pole vault would be the perfect sport for me to try,” said Robinson, who is coached by Christian North at Team Bath.

“I went over to the university in Bath to give it a try and I loved it straight away, “It’s a lot of fun and it’s a sport that not everyone does.

“In my first session I jumped 2.5m. I also like that it’s quite challenging.

“I’ve only done six or seven competitions, so it’s quite a shock to be going to the English Schools already.

“I jumped three centimetres under my personal best (3.1m) at the South West championships (in Exeter on June 25), so hopefully I can do well.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how far I can go with it.”

FOR MORE SPORTS NEWS, REPORTS & PICTURES SEE FRIDAY'S WILTSHIRE TIMES AND FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @WTSport