WIMBORNE ace Louise Watton confirmed her status as Britain's most promising junior javelin thrower on her way to under-17s gold at the South of England Championships in Watford.

Fifteen-year-old Watton claimed yet another personal best as she broke through the prestigious 45-metre mark for the first time with a fourth-round throw of 45.17.

The Watford distance now leaves the Lytchett Minster schoolgirl just seven centimetres short of Samantha Redd's under-17 best of 45.24 set in 2000.

And Watton's new mark was also better than any other under-17 or under-20 female javelin thrower competing at the three UK territorial championship events being staged simultaneously in Manchester (North) and Birmingham (Midlands).

Remarkably, the reigning English Schools champion has improved her best by a massive six-and-a-half metres from the corresponding championships this time last season.

And, to put her achievements in perspective, Watton is only 6.83m short of the 2002 Commonwealth Games qualifying standard of 52m despite not turning 16 until October.

Watton's dad and coach, Tim, believes his daughter will have to reassess her season's priorities if she continues her record-breaking progress.

He said: "Louise only set a new personal best at the Dorset County Championships two weeks ago but she seems to be moving up a metre a fortnight at the moment.

"Even though she is only in her first year as an under-17, we were hoping she might break the British record by the end of the season but now we are looking realistically at 48m."

Watton added: "Louise is remarkably consistant. She did a lot of weight training over the winter and it is really paying off. She is stronger, sharper and quicker.

"This time of year we are intensifying the speed work because Louise has got the strength foundation and now we are using the speed with strength to turn it into power. That is where the additional distance is coming from."

Watton was not Dorset's only gold medal winner at Watford as Bournemouth duo Colin McCourt and Sian Scott both claimed South of England titles.

McCourt, the UK's top ranked under-17 1,500m runner last season, set a new personal best of 3.53:30 to take the under-20s crown from Mark Draper (WSEH) in 3.55:89.

Scott comfortably cruised to under-20s 400m hurdles glory in 61.05 secs from Emily Parker (62.98s).

Thomas Dymott made up for the disappointment of Dorset Championships disqualification with a superb silver double in the under-15s' 400m (56.56s) and 80m hurdles (12.67s).

Rising hammer star Matthew Frampton also snatched second with another personal best of 58.19m.

And just 0.8 seconds separated all eight athletes in the under-20 women's 100m where BAC's Cara Roberts finished fifth in 12.5.

Other BAC results - Girl - Under-15s: 100m (heat 1) 7 A Johnson 13.72, 200m (heat 3) Johnson 28.03. Under-20s: Long Jump 6 C Roberts 5.18m, triple jump 9 H Arbuthnot 8.75, hammer 9 Arbuthnot 27.56, javelin 5 Arbuthnot 21.45. Boys - Under-17s: Javelin 7 S Arbuthnot 36.07, shot putt 6 Arbuthnot 10.98, hammer 6 Arbuthnot 38.96.