MIDDLE distance star Nikki Hamblin led a Dorchester Athletic Club gold rush at the Dorset County Champion-ships at King's Park, Bournemouth.

She headed Dorchester's roll of honour with three golds and a silver as athletes from the county town club collected a total of 18 medals.

And she showed her versatility by smashing Anna Gurd's 23-year-old club record when she won the 200m in 26.7 seconds.

Nikki was one of nine youngsters from Dorchester's enthusiastic under-15 girls team who covered a wide range of events and and won six of the championships. Her other wins came in the 800m (2:20.0) and the 1500m (4:42.9) and despite uncertain starts in both the 100m heat and final, she demonstrated her absolute speed by taking the silver medal in 13.4 seconds.

Triple medal winner Laura Carr demonstrated her class with a fine final throw of 30.39m to win the javelin and showed her progress with the discus to take the championship with a throw of 24.91m. She added a bronze medal to her haul with a throw of 8.24m in the shot.

Ellie Bedwell was unopposed in the Under-15 girls' 2.5k walk, but maintained excellent style and set a new personal best in 17:27.8.

The strength of Dorchester's under-15 girls middle distance runners was shown in the 800m in which four of the club's girls ran fast times to join Nikki Hamblin in the final.

They were Abbie Lawson - 4th in 2:28.0 (PB of 2:26.5 in the heat); Tina Evans - sixth in 2:33.2 (2:28.3 in the heat) and Leila Francis Coleman - eighth in a PB of 2:34.0.

Taking part in up to six events each were Charlotte Watts, Kirsty Maton and first year Under-15 Kerrie Damen with Charlotte claiming two sixth places.

Jemma Tewkesbury put herself high in the early season rankings with a throw of 24.26m in the under-13 girls' javelin. She was a clear county champion, following in the shoes of Laura Carr. Jemma is also a fast sprinter and recorded 30.8 seconds in placing fifth in the 200m final.

Ellie Burn also won gold with a 12.3 second run in the opening event of the championships, the Under-13 girls' 75m hurdles and took silver with an excellent 1.30m high jump. She was also fourth in the 100m (14.3) and fifth in the long jump.

Hannah Jeanes was third in the Under-13 girls' 1500m in 5:44.7 and won a second bronze using her sprint speed in the 200m (29.7). Tanya Carter set a personal best in a well judged race to come fifth in the 1500m.

Kim Rogers and Sarah Lonsdale competed in the under-17 womens' age group. Kim had success in being a finalist in both the 100m and the 200m. Both competed in the discus and showed good skill development which will ultimately bring results. Coach Janet Biles, took the silver medal in the senior women's discus.

Dan Cree won the junior men's steeplechase championship and fellow junior, Richard Beasley, won bronze in the 1500m in 4:16.9 and improved his 800m time to 2:04.3 in placing fourth in the 800m. Steeplechase times are not valid as a leaky water jump had to be omitted.

In the under-17 men, all four Dorchester athletes were close to medals but only Sam Evans made the top three. Sam took bronze in the 1500m steeplechase and was sixth in the 3000m.

Richard Watts was tantalisingly fourth in both the steeplechase and the 800m (2.09.5), while Scott Biles was another fourth placer in the discus (25.25). Callum Hawkins showed excellent progress in

the shot with a fifth place put of 9.76m.

Another fourth placed athlete was Lee Biles with 17.71m in the under-15 javelin. William Osborne showed great tenacity in achieving bronze in the Under-15 boys' 3000m and also competed well in the 1500m, high jump and long jump.

As a result of their championship performances Dorchester AC can look forward to a significant number of its athletes representing the county in the coming months.