AFTER just one year of competing, pole vaulter Richard Humby been crowned South of England under-15 boys' indoor champion.

Humby is one of five pupils from The Gregg School, Southampton, who have been taken under the wing of former Southampton City pole vaulter-turned-coach, Paul Thomas.

Thomas's mum, Kate Longhurst, is a science technician at The Gregg, and between them they have assembled a group of up-and-coming young vaulters, comprising Richard, his older brother Peter Humby, Simon Preston, Hannah Pim and Claire Tolcher.

Competing at the new indoor facility at Picketts Lock, Richard Humby took to his first major championships like a duck to water, soaring to the title with a 2.50-metre clearance.

The promising youngster will now go forward to the England Open Championships which will take place in Birmingham on February 24.

Brother Peter Humby was sixth in the under-17 men's event, scaling 3.20 metres, which was equal to his outdoor personal best.

Having purchased a pole vault bed, uprights and runway, Thomas's group train in the Humby family's back garden in Owslebury but, due to the wet weather, have been restricted in their training of late.

With no indoor training centre available in the Southampton area, their nearest facility is at Eton.