SIXTEEN-year-old Hedge End race walking sensation Nick Ball was busy tearing up the record books again at the Hampshire Track & Field Championships at Portsmouth's Mountbatten Centre.

His winning time of 12 minutes 25.1 seconds set a new county best for the under-17 age-group and was only 1.5 seconds slower than the overall Championship record set by his father, Jim, in 1987 - a year before Nick was born!

At national level, Ball - who competes for Steyning AC - made his mark with the second fastest time ever on the UK all-time under-17 records.

In a welcome sight for race-walking enthusiasts, 27 athletes took to the track at the same time to contest the various age-group categories.

Twenty of them were on the 3000m startline, led by hot favourite Ball, who set his stall out for a personal best from the word go.

Hitting the 1,000m point in 4.05, the Wildern Arts College student's only opposition were the walkers he lapped as he tore round the track.

The youngster's determination was richly rewarded as he sliced over a minute off his own under-17 championship record and improved on his recent 12.47 indoor run by a massive 22 seconds.

Over the years, Ball's dad and mentor, Jim, has rattled off over 40 county titles.

This time, he finished in silver medal position in the senior men's 3000m.

Pride of place went to vet-45 walker Nick Silvester, whose Aldershot teammate Verity Snook took the senior women's crown.

Young Michael Silvester gave the family their second gold of the day in the under-13 boys 2000m event, while under-13 girl Sarah Grace from the Isle of Wight clocked 12.10.2 to beat a championship best which had stood since 1992.